After a season of playing the juggernauts of the OAA Division I, Clarkston’s girls basketball team is having a nice time toppling normal giants in the MHSAA playoffs.
Clarkston beat Brighton 55-48 in the regional semifinal on Nov. 21 in Bay City in a game where the Wolves led, for the most part, throughout. Then on Nov. 23, for a pre-Thanksgiving meal, the Wolves feasted on Grand Blanc 55-44 to capture the regional championship.
The title did not come easily as Clarkston trailed Grand Blanc 22-11 at halftime after shooting 4/27 from the field.
‘We just didn’t want to lose,? Clarkston Coach Tim Wasilk said. ‘I told them at halftime ‘We’re getting open looks, the shots are going to start going down.??
Wasilk’s words during the intermission proved prophetic as the Wolves put up 22 points in both the third and fourth quarters, outscoring the Bobcats 44-22 in the second half.
‘Although we shot 4/27 in the first half, they were confident. This team is loose, they just go out and play,? Wasilk said.
Leading the second half charge for the Wolves was senior Tamra Green, who finished with a team high 17 points. Norah Kelly also helped shoulder the scoring load, pouring in 11.
In their matchup with Brighton in the regional semifinal, the Wolves did not need a dramatic second half comeback ? they just had to stave one off.
‘We led by ten in the fourth quarter. (Brighton) cut it down to three with five or six seconds left,? Wasilk said.
Senior Melissa Martinez hit two free throws to give the Wolves their final 53-48 advantage. Martinez scored 13 in the game, shooting 9/13 from the free throw line.
‘She stepped up and wanted the ball at the end of the game,? Wasilk said.
Helping set up the Wolves? regional semifinal victory over the Bulldogs was junior Chelsea Kouri. She canned six three pointers in the contest, part of her 20 points.
Lying in wait for Clarkston in the MHSAA Division I state quarterfinals was Saginaw Arthur Hill, who at the end of the regular season was ranked No. 6 in the state.
Played on Nov. 29 at Saginaw Heritage High School, the Wolves quarterfinal matchup with Arthur Hill finished too late for this edition of The Clarkston News. A complete recap of the game will be available at www.clarkstonnews.com on the afternoon of Nov. 30.
‘Arthur Hill presses you the entire floor. If we handle their press and traps we have a good chance against them,? Wasilk said, prior to the game.
In practices leading up to their quarterfinal game, Wasilk has used seven defenders against five offensive players to simulate Arthur Hills? ever unquenched thirst for the ball on defense.
Wasilk felt his own team’s defense could help tip the scales in Clarkston’s favor.
‘We’ve picked it up defensively every game so far in the playoffs … I think we can cause them a little trouble too,? Wasilk said, referring to the half court trap favored by the Wolves.
Clarkston’s record now stands at 15-9 after four playoff victories. They are now one of eight teams in Division I still playing basketball, a list which also includes fellow OAA DI schools Southfield Lathrup and Auburn Hills Avondale.
Should they advance to the state semifinals, Clarkston would face the winner of Munroe and Detroit Martin Luther King on Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. in the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University.
The MHSAA Division I State Final is set for noon on Dec. 3 at Breslin.