After Clarkston schooled West Bloomfield on the finer points of basketball in an 83-40 home win on Feb. 7, Clarkston Coach Dan Fife knew the Lakers would be looking forward to his team’s visit on Feb. 24.
The Lakers and their fans might still have some residual bitterness though, as Clarkston escaped with a 65-56 win.
‘It was a big win to beat West Bloomfield, especially with them beating Pontiac Northern and (Southfield) Lathrup recently,? junior center Bren Bergquist said.
In the teams? first matchup Bergquist staged himself a little coming out party, scoring a career high 26 points. The Lakers were bound and determined to not let the Clarkston big man burn them again.
‘They really placed an emphasis on stopping Bergquist. He did an outstanding job of getting the ball to people for open shots,? Fife said.
The Lakers also focused on shutting down senior Joe Moran, the Wolves leading scorer.
While Moran and Bergquist finished with four and six points respectively, their teammates took advantage of the open looks.
Off the bench Anrew Lyons scored 13 points, nailing three 3-pointers along the way.
‘He’s (Lyons) is getting more and more confident in what he’s doing,? Fife said.
With the ongoing injury problems of starting point guard John Kast, who was able to play sparingly against the Lakers, the emergence of Lyons and starter Rob Ronk have been invaluable to the Wolves this season.
Another player who stepped up his offensive game against West Bloomfield, and has done so in key stretches for the Wolves all season, was senior Joe Rademacher who registered a team high 16 points in the contest.
Last year, Rademacher’s boundless energy and hustle earned him a role off the bench as a defensive stopper for the Wolves. Fife has been happy to see the lithe guards enthusiasm carry over to the offensive end of the floor.
‘We need (Rademacher’s scoring) because he uses his quickness to get shots that you don’t have to draw up. He can create his own shot,? Fife said.
Earlier in the week the usual suspects were filling up the scoring column as Clarkston beat Troy High on the road 75-52 on Feb. 22.
Moran had a game high 18 points in the win. Bergquist added 11.
Clarkston’s last league game of the year at home against Avondale finished too late for this edition of The Clarkston News. Prior to the contest, the Wolves record stood at 14-4 (7-3).
Clarkston host Southfield in their final regular season game of the year on March 3 before districts start on March 6.
‘We just keep getting better going into districts,? Bergquist said.
Clarkston has drawn Waterford Kettering in the first round of districts in a game to be played at 5:30 p.m. at Lake Orion. Should they advance the Wolves meet Lapeer East on March 8.
Though the overall talent in Clarkston’s district is nowhere near what the Wolves have faced in the cuthroat OAA I this year, Fife wants his team to stay humble.
‘When you play competitive sports you have to respect anyone you play and if you don’t do that you deserve to lose,? Fife said.
A possible district final on March 10 could pair Clarkston against Lake Orion and super sophomore Drew Maynard.