Clarkston’s quest for the state finals was blocked by Saginaw (25-1) after a hard-fought game.
The Trojans beat the Wolves March 11 in the quarterfinals, 86-77.
‘It’s a tough loss for the kids and Clarkston,? said longtime Wolves coach Dan Fife.
‘There are no words that describe how I feel or how my players feel, the whole team. We had it within our grasp and it slipped through. There’s nothing we could do.?
Saginaw held on to the lead for the first three quarters of the game, 51-45.
Clarkston turned things around in the fourth quarter.
Within the first minute of the quarter, Tom Staton caught a Trojans? rebound and passed to Matt Kamieniecki on the other side of the court.
Saginaw added a basket before Kamieniecki scored three more and Julius Porter scored once.
Brandon Verlinden caught Staton’s rebound and made the basket to bring Clarkston head-to-head with Saginaw, 55-55.
With 1:20 left in the game, Saginaw led the game, 64-59. The Wolves needed a play that would put them into the lead. Brandon Pokley came through, scoring three points from the outside.
Oliver Kupe added two points on a steal, tying the game again, 64-64.
Saginaw was unable to score, sending the game into its first overtime.
The first basket scored was by the Trojans, but Pokley followed it up by making three consecutive three-point shots.
Trojans Will Marlow, Daniel West, and Draymond Green brought their team back up, tying the game, 73-73.
The buzzer sounded the end of the first overtime and the two teams went into their last overtime.
Saginaw took charge, scoring nine points while keeping Clarkston to four, ending the game and the season for the Wolves.
‘We kept fighting hard,? said opponent Draymond Green. ‘We did what we were taught.?
‘I was happy to go into two overtimes because we pulled out a chance to win,? said Fife. ‘I feel bad for our kids because it’s been so hard. It’s tough to lose. In coaching, it’s my job to prepare them. They’ll all broken-hearted. It’s a loss, but that’s Clarkston basketball. We’re going to fight, play hard and play smart.
‘It took me 13 years to get here, so I don’t ever make excuses or wonder if it’s not suppose to happen. I just want to keep on battling and maybe one day we’re get through it. We have so many kids here that want it, maybe one of these days we will get through it.?
Wolves will lose senior starters Porter and Kupe next season. Kamieniecki, Pokley, and Staton will return.
Pokley led the game with 25 points. Kamieniecki scored 22, Porter had 14, and Kupe had 12 points.
High scorers for Saginaw were Will Marlow and Raymond Stepney, both with 15 points, and Daniel West, Mike Green, and Draymond Green with 14 points each.
The Wolves ended their season with a 23-3 overall record.