The Clarkston basketball season has begun to make the leap from just a good start to a solid campaign. The Wolves improved to 8-0 (2-0) on Jan. 14 with a 75-59 victory against Pontiac Central.
For the second Friday night in a row, Clarkston fell behind early, letting the Chippewas jump out to a 10-2 lead. However, nine points from junior John Kast and two threes from senior Robbie Clark helped Clarkston make a 17-5 run to close the first quarter. Kast had a game high 21 points to go with five rebounds, two steals and a block in the contest.
‘I had been in a little bit of a slump and I was trying to get out of it,? said Kast.
After the Wolves slight lull in the first quarter, they were able to set up their motion offense with ease ? at one point burning close to a minute off of the clock late in the second quarter.
‘Clarkston is very tough and very physical. No matter what happens they come down and run their offense,? said Pontiac Central Coach Albrey Tipton. ‘After the first five minutes of the game we started gambling instead of playing solid defense. You can’t gamble with (Clarkston).?
The half closed with a 38-28 Clarkston lead, which grew to a 15 point lead by the end of the third quarter.
The Chippewas went on a mini-run in the fourth, but Kast stepped up for the Wolves again. After blocking a shot that would have cut the Clarkston lead to 10, Kast went coast to coast for a layup and a 64-50 lead.
‘I always worry about our competitive spirit and if we play hard. If we do those things I’m happy,? said Clarkston Coach Dan Fife.
Down the stretch in the fourth quarter Clarkston went 15 for 18 from the free throw line to seal the game. Senior Brad Goodman was particularly deadly from the line, stroking nine of 10. Goodman finished with 15 points and notched five assists.
While the Wolves were able to hold off the Chippewas in the end, the fourth quarter exposed a possible weakness going forward. Central, especially junior Donte Campbell and senior Maurice Hobson, worked Clarkston over on the offensive boards gathering in numerous put-back attempts.
‘We just have to get better at (rebounding). Rebounding is a part of the game that is physical and competitive, we just give up a million easy baskets and then we have to play so hard to get baskets,? said Fife.
Earlier in the week Clarkston worked over Birmingham Groves to the tune of 80-59. Clark led all scorers with 25 points in the game. Junior Joe Moran chipped in 21 points for the Wolves as well.
This week Clarkston will take the show on the road. The game Jan. 18 at Southfield Lathrup finished too late for this edition of The Clarkston News. The Wolves play next at Troy on Jan. 21.