By Jim Newell

Review Editor, and

Megan Kelley

Review Writer

It was a great week of play last week for the Lake Orion varsity boys basketball team, with the Dragons earning three straight wins, two over league opponents.

On Feb. 23, Lake Orion began the week by beating Walled Lake Western 53-40 on the road.

Defensive specialist senior Will McClear set the tone for the evening with multiple steals and key baskets to energize the Dragons’ offense.

Lake Orion junior Alden Ritt led the night’s scoring with 19 points, and senior Brennan Jones added 14 points. For the Warriors, seniors Eric Dean had 12 points and Cameron Kinaia scored eight.

“It feels like we are turning a corner. We haven’t played a complete game, but we are close,” said head coach Joel Schroeder after the game. “We are starting to define some roles, and guys are beginning to make plays. I’m excited to see where this team goes the rest of the season.”

The next day, Feb. 24, the Dragons faced off against Birmingham Seaholm at home, dominating the first three quarters of play.

Lake Orion jumped out to an early lead, finishing the first quarter 11-6. In the second quarter, the Dragons extended their lead, with junior forward Alden Ritt making a layup just before the buzzer to add two points and give Lake Orion a 25-15 lead at the half.

The Dragons continued to control play during the third quarter, with Ritt hitting a three-pointer with five seconds left to give the Dragons the 40-25 lead.

Lake Orion’s strong play throughout the game and seemingly insurmountable lead certainly helped in the fourth quarter, because the Dragon’s control did not.

The Dragons turned the ball over repeatedly during the final quarter, and the Maple Leafs took advantage of their play by outscoring the Dragons 14-7.

Lake Orion pulled out the victory, 47-39.

Ritt led Lake Orion scorers with 18 points. Senior center Xander Blackney added 9 points, and four other Dragons – Nick Fisher, Malachi Grandberry, Andrew Bryant and Brennan Jones – all got on the board.

“It was a scrappy defensive battle tonight. I love how we played for three quarters. We need to focus on finishing games and taking care of the ball, but I am proud of the guys. They have put themselves into position to play a big game on Friday night (against Troy Athens),” Schroeder said.

On Friday, Lake Orion defeated Troy Athens 41-34 in a hard-fought battle in the OAA Blue division for the team’s third consecutive win of the week.

The game was a rematch of the first game of the season, which Athens won, but held a special note of revenge for the Dragons – they took first place in the division after the win.

Dragon junior Alden Ritt, led all scorers with 22 points, while senior Brennan Jones scored 10 points, and senior Will McClear added seven. For the Red Hawks, senior Michael Justice had 14 points, and junior Jordan Sebagh put in nine.

“We had a great defensive effort from our entire team,” said Schroeder. “We taxed a couple guys with stopping some talented players, and they slowed them down. Alden really carried us offensively tonight. We are starting to peak at the right time.”

Lake Orion (6-2 overall, 3-1 in the OAA Blue) traveled to Berkley on Tuesday after Lake Orion Review press time for another league game. The Dragons will also travel to Lapeer High School on Friday.

The Dragons have nine returning players this year, six of them seniors, with senior Will McClear the captain of the team. The Dragons’ depth will certainly help this season.

“Alden Ritt is having a good year. He played with us his sophomore year. Now he’s a junior so he’s kind of having a breakout season. We’re waiting for one of our younger guys, a sophomore, DJ Marrow, to get going. He was injured at the beginning of the year so he’s trying to get back on, back in playing shape. Then we have six seniors. We have a good senior class,” the coach said.

This year, the Oakland Activities Association added a fourth league, and Lake Orion dropped down from the top-tiered Red to the Blue division.

How is the team dealing with the adjustment?

“In the Red, we struggled a lot. We were young last year and then that being my first year (as coach), the Red was tough,” Schroeder said. “I think it helped us; I think it helped our whole program being in the Red. I think going down to the blue, now we actually have to win some games. We have to teach these kids how to win now. I think we’re in the right division for sure. Every game has been really competitive.

Schroeder said working their way back into the Red is one of the team’s long-term goals, but for this season the Dragons are focused on winning games and getting prepared for the postseason.

“We always set out to get better every day and really to prepare for districts and a tournament run. But the guys really want to win the league this year, so that is one of their goals, too,” Schroeder said.

“I think if we win this year, I think it’s our senior class that gets it done and our size and then Aldin coming around and our young guys helping out scoring-wise. But yeah, it should be fun the rest of the way. We got three or four weeks left, so I’m excited”