Cagers proved they were back in form as they headed to the locker room at half time on Friday.
They had outscored Avondale, 34-6, in the first 16 minutes and knew they had to keep the pace going to prove they recovered from the loss to North Farmington on Jan. 22.
Senior Matt Kamieniecki led the team as they finished the night posting a win, 70-41.
‘It was a good response to last week’s loss,? said Kamieniecki on how the team played. ‘It did teach us a nice lesson. A tough loss just prepares us to just come out and we have to play hard.?
‘We were really good in our first half and we set the stage to how the game was going to be,? said Dan Fife, Wolves head coach.
The boys posted seven points before the half way point in the third quarter. The large gap allowed the Wolves to give their starters a break and put the subs in. As the quarter ended the Yellow Jackets put their score on the board in the double digits and ended the quarter, 47-21.
‘It’s hard to stay focused with that kind of lead,? said Fife. ‘It’s hard if you are the second or third team not to stay focused and kids are goofing around – it’s hard not to get caught up in it.?
Matt Rodgers scored four points for the Wolves at the beginning of the final quarter after beginning fouled on, not once, but twice.
Avondale continued to strike sending Mitch Baenziger and Max Collins also to the line.
Collins struck back by being in the perfect spot as Avondale stopped the ball from going out and passed it to the court. Collins grabbed the ball, setting off a chain reaction boosting the Wolves? scoring.
‘The third and fourth quarter got a little ugly but our subs gave us good minutes,? said Kamieniecki.
Kamieniecki led the boys with 18 points. Marcus Hardy had 10 points and Tyler Scarlett added nine.
For Avondale, Raphael Tillman scored 20 points.
Fife commented on how the game could have ended differently if the team had played like they did against North Farmington.
‘The same result could have happened,? he said. ‘Avondale could have scored, but the first half we took them out. It was a good win for us and a good response to last week’s loss. I am happy with what they did and how they responded to the loss.?
He added how the defense and the effort was better since the last time they played.
The boys go on the road this week for three games. They faced Southfield-Lathrup on Tuesday. They are at Pontiac High School on Friday and at the Dorian Styles Classic on Sunday.
‘They are going to be tough,? said Kamieniecki about this week’s teams. ‘Three games in one week is pretty tough, let alone against some good competition. We will have our hands full.?
The game at Pontiac begins at 5:30 p.m. for the JV team, varsity follows.
‘They play up tempo and they go after the ball,? said Kamieniecki.
The boys are at the Dorian Styles Classic at Delta College on Sunday. They play at 12 p.m. The boys are now 8-2 and 5-1 in the OAA Red after defeating Avondale.