Oliver Kupe scored the first basket seven seconds into Friday’s game and the momentum grew from there.
‘It’s always a great game when we play Carman (Ainsworth), because their kids play hard and compete hard and weren’t going to quit,? said Coach Dan Fife after the game.
They beat number seven ranked Carmen-Ainsworth, 60-51.
‘I knew it wasn’t going to be a 20 point game, I knew they were going to come after us I told our kids that. Knowing that they’re going to come after you and meeting the challenge, it’s a step for us. It’s a big step in making us a better team.?
Clarkston’s cagers winning streak continues. With the win against the Cavaliers and their Jan. 8 victory against Southfield-Lathrup, 63-55, their record stands at 7-0.
The Wolves ended the first half agianst Carman-Ainsworth with a 15 point lead, 29-14.
In the third quarter, the Cavaliers picked up the pace in the last minutes, but were still behind the Wolves by 18 points, 43-25.
The Cavaliers picked up the pace quickly in the final quarter. They gained 20 points while the Wolves had only six, leading to a score of 49-45 with three minutes left in the game.
The Wolves jumped back into action as their defense got the ball away from their opposition. Clarkston added four more points to the board and gained more distance in their lead.
The pressure built and in the last minute, Julius Porter added five points, and Brandon Pokley added two points from free throws, bringing the score 60-51.
‘The first three quarters wasn’t as hard as I expected,? said Porter. ‘But the fourth quarter, they brung it. It was a different game in the fourth quarter but we worked at it, came out, played Clarkston basketball.?
‘I am happy about tonight’s win, but it’s a long season, seven and oh is nothing to get comfortable with,? said Fife. ‘After the fun and games, we’re still learning and trying to establish who we are and the character of our team.?
The Carman-Ainsworth squad dug too deep a hole in the first half, said Carman-Ainsworth coach Bob Root.
‘I thought our kids responded in the second half and picked up our level of play and actually were more aggressive late in the third quarter and early fourth quarter,? Root said. ‘We got back in the game. I was proud of them for that. But you can’t get behind a good team like Clarkston that far and expect to win.?
High scorers for the night were Porter with 16 points, Pokley with 12, and Kupe with 10.
Carman Ainsworth high scorers were Kieon Arkhurt with 16 and Jon Lee with 13.
The JV team lost to Carman-Ainsworth 43-29.
This week, the Wolves travel to Flint Northern High School on Tuesday and West Bloomfield on Thursday.
‘Anytime you go to an away gym you don’t know what to expect,? said Coach Fife. ‘But I feel a lot better knowing our subs are coming out and I’ve got a lot of confidence in our bench. We were playing too many kids that were getting tired and I’m wearing them down so it was great to get great minutes from those kids – Tyler Scarlett, Brandon Hughes, Brandon Verlinden and Luke Prudhomme.?