The following is a poem written by a Review reader in tribute to Lake Orion High School’s girls basketball team, which recently went to the state finals. ~~JTC

Coach Roberts and the Dragon Ladies from Lake Orion High
Were moved up two divisions but they didn’t cry.
‘It’s still 5 on 5,? Coach Roberts would say,
‘We’re as good as anyone on any given day.
‘We will impose our will; we’ll play tough D,
‘We can beat anyone, you girls will see.
‘We are in it to win it,? and wins were aplenty
‘If we keep playing our game, we might even win 20.?
And win they did; the newspapers said,
‘If they keep this up, they could win the Red.?
Then, they lost to Pontiac Northern, all thought they were dead,
But they did come back and they won the Red.
The regular season over, the Dragons were on top,
But coach said, ‘Hey, girls, this is no time to stop.
‘This is a new season. The competition will be mean,
‘But you are the best group of players Lake Orion has ever seen.
‘Our defense will be swarming all over the floor
‘With a couple more wins. Then comes the Final Four.
‘We’re in uncharted waters,? the coach would say, ‘but we belong here. It’ll be our day.?
In 35 years, no one had been this deep.
With Watterworth and Zott, their talent was steep.
24 and 2 was the record they had.
In anyone’s book, that isn’t bad.
With the team, family and friends at their side
The Dragons were off on a lifetime ride.
They were off to Ypsilanti wearing the silver slipper.
Zott and all the others had the Big Dipper.
Bethany would play great and put on an awesome show.
But 24 and three the mighty Dragons would go.
They played smart; the coach was stellar.
No one could say that this team was yeller.
But their season was over, the end of a dream.
And still they are the best Lake Orion has seen.
Roberts and Watterworth would be named to the dream,
But Coach Roberts would say, ‘It takes a whole team.?
‘There’s no ‘I? in ‘team,?? the coach would say.
‘The hardest workers and the best players are who will play.?
2009 sure was an awesome season,
But all of us really know the real reason.
Great coaching, discipline, hard work all go into the equation,
To make Coach Roberts? program a great organization.
The coach is a little guy; he isn’t very tall,
But with his work ethic and determination, he’s looked up to by all.
I think we should all toast the team with a cheer
Because 2008-09 was a really great year!