The new Lake Orion head basketball coach is no stranger to the sidelines when it comes to big Oakland Activities Association competition or Lake Orion High School.
Lance Davis, most recently the team’s junior varsity headman, will now take the reins of the varsity program.
Davis was named as Jim Manzo’s successor two weeks ago. Manzo announced at the end of the 2007-08 season that he was stepping down.
‘There is some continuity,? Davis said. ‘But I have to replace a JV coach and a freshman coach and we graduated a bulk of our team.?
‘This team averaged about 57 points a game, and 50 points graduates,? he added. ‘It’s going to be a challenge not only to replace that, but a defensive side too.?
Davis was the varsity girls? coach at West Bloomfield for four years and spent four years coaching the boys? team at Pontiac Central. He also coached at North Farmington.
Among his accomplishments was a 15-game turnaround from year one to year two at West Bloomfield.
According to Reiss, Davis was one of four strong internal candidates that interviewed for the position. It was his previous varsity coaching experience, particularly against the top OAA competition, that stood out.
The team is slated to move up to the OAA I next season, though a schedule is not yet set.
‘We’re going to have to change our style to adjust to that move,? Reiss said of potentially moving up a division.
Davis agreed, saying the returning players will have to adjust to a quicker pace. He also noted that the players will need to work on the mental aspect of the game.
‘I was the JV coach last year, and my intensity level was suited for the JV level,? he said. ‘Now, being the varsity coach, all the players have to get to know me as a varsity coach. The expectations are greater, the intensity is more and the preparation for the type of team that we’re going to face will have to increase.
Davis noted that many players are set to play at the AAU level this summer and participate in other organized action. He stressed, however, that it will be the best players, come winter tryouts, that make the team and earn playing time.
‘It’s a new lease on life for all the guys that have aspirations to be a varsity basketball player,? he said. ‘It’s a fresh start for all of them, returning players as well as players who didn’t come out or got cut.?