Clarkston’s mishandling of the ball and its anemic offense caught up with it on Thursday Sept. 9 as the girl’s basketball team lost their first game of the year to Rochester 46-33.
‘They were a better team than we were tonight … I don’t doubt my kids effort we just have to start making shots,? said Coach Ann Lowney
Rochester came out hot starting the game on an 11-2 run which included a spinning drive to the basket for two points and a foul by sophomore guard Brittnay Jones. On several occasions throughout the night Jones made big plays to keep the Wolves at bay.
Clarkston got as close as they would come all game as they rallied back early in the second quarter to bring the score to 11-10. Rochester then went on a 6-0 run before senior Jill Kouri stroked a three-pointer to make it 17-13 with a minute remaining in the half. Any momentum Clarkston was hoping to take in to the secomd half however was dashed when Rochester hit a three as time expired in the half.
‘We’ve got to keep geting better, I’ve got to keep doing a good job of teaching,? Lowney said.
Over the course of the third quarter Clarkston went on a 9-5 run spurred on by another three by Kouri and a three by junior Melissa Martinez that rattled home as the quarter ended. The shot cut the Rochester lead to three.
The Wolves never got the score any closer though as Rochester opened up a 32-23 lead to start the fourth quarter. Unfortuanately for Clarkston the turnover problems that have plagued them in past games cropped up again as they turned the ball over three times in the last four minutes of the game. The last three turnovers led to layups for Rochester as they cruised to victory.
‘It’s only the first league game, we have a lot of games to play and our goal is to get better everyday,? Lowney said adding that the schedule ahead is full of some very tough competition.
Clarkston won its game on Tuesday Sept. 7 against Stevenson 55-45 and featured three players scoring double figures: Julia Connor (10), Stephanie Parkin (13) and Chelsea Kouri (11).
‘We’re never going to have girls that stand out,? Lowney said. ‘We are always going to win as a team.?
The Wolves game at Ladywood on Tuesday Sept. 14 finished too late for this edition of The Clarkston News. Clarkston’s next game is at Tuesday Sept. 21 at Southfield.
Clarkston is 3-1 overall.