As the clock ran out in the third quarter senior Brad Goodman brought the Wolves basketball destiny back to life with a flick of the wrist.
Eight minutes later, senior Robbie Clark triumphantly rippled the embroided ‘Clarkston? lettering on his chest like a battle flag, signaling C-Town’s return to the regional round of play after holding off Waterford Kettering, 57-50, in the district finals.
‘We knew it was going to be a battle. They made a run, but we knew as long as we stayed within reaching distance, we would be fine,? said Goodman, whose third quarter buzzer beater ended a 17-1 Captains run and cut the Wolves deficit to six heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the torch Goodman lit was taken up by junior John Kast, as he mercilessly plunged through the lane, reeling off six of his nine points during an 11-0 Clarkston scoring spurt.
‘I’m just proud of our kids. They didn’t lose their composure when they were down going into the fourth. A lot of teams would have folded. With Clark and Goodman, I think everybody beleived we were going to get it done,? said Clarkston Coach Dan Fife. ‘I can’t say enough about John Kast and what he did coming off the bench.?
After their flurry in the fourth gave Clarkston a tenuous 47-42 lead, the Captains surged again, but could not get over the hump, twice missing free throws which would have tied the game.
‘My kids, in the lockeroom before the game, at halftime and in the huddle with a minute to go, felt like we were going to win,? said Waterford Kettering Coach Phil Dawson. ‘We had some really good shots at the end that did not go in.?
Clarkston, after shooting 12-44 through the first three quarters, was a model of efficiency in the fourth draining 4-4 from the field and 12-13 attempts at the line.
In a game featuring eight lead changes, a blind-folded-person could have kept track of the score as an evenly split packed house alternately threatened to blow the roof off the building.
‘Our kids are so lucky to be able to play in a game with this type of atmosphere,? said Dawson. ‘This is how Clarkston built their program 100 years ago.?
Clarkston has not lost a district tournament in the past 12 years.
The Wolves also received a scare from Waterford Mott on March 2, eeking out a 47-44 victory as two Corsair three-point attempts clanged off the rim in the closing seconds.
In the first round of regionals, the eighth ranked Wolves will tangle with Brighton at Anchor Bay on March 9 at 7 p.m. Should they advance, Clarkston will play in the regional final on March 11 at 7 p.m. against the winner of the tilt between Grand Blanc and Clinton Township Chippewa Valley.