What the Wolves displayed right up until the end of their season was heart ? and it got them within three points of advancing to the state semifinals.
Saginaw proved to be too tall, strong and athletic for Clarkston, as they eeked out a 58-56 victory when Brad Goodman’s deep three point attempt, with two defenders breathing in his face, rattled off the back rim as time expired.
‘Those kids, they just battled their butts off. We’re probably 20 pounds lighter at every position and that’s been the character of our team this whole year. Our kids play the game the way it is supposed to be played and compete every possession,? said Clarkston Coach Dan Fife.
While his final shot may linger, Goodman put Clarkston in position to win as he took over the game in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 points including ten straight to open the final eight minutes. Goodman finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, six steals and three assists.
‘I told them not to foul (on the last possession), but we had to contest the shot, especially against kids who can flat out shoot the basketball. (That last shot) was tough. If it had gone, it would have been us (losing),? said Saginaw Coach Lou Dawkins. ‘We were pushing everything out on the perimeter, we did not want them to have a three point shot. I was hoping that they would drive, then we would have been in overtime.?
Saginaw’s height and athleticism garnered the Trojans nine offensive rebounds in the first half, those extra possessions led to a 34-23 lead at the close of the second quarter.
‘I couldn’t ask for anything more from my kids than what they gave me on the floor and their effort both physically and mentally,? said Fife. ‘Why I really wanted to win states was my kids? effort.?
To open the second half, Clarkston senior Robbie Clark and junior Joe Moran drained back-to-back three pointers, making the score 34-29.
A quick spurt by Saginaw led to a 12-point lead midway through the third. Clark again cut into the Trojans? lead with a furious drive to the basket, twirling the ball onto the glass and absorbing contact in the lane to get to the free throw line, pulling the Wolves within seven points.
‘All throughout the game, (Clarkston) would drive and we would turn to the side and let them have the layup instead of taking the charge,? said Dawkins.
Clark would not be able to finish the game for the Wolves. He fouled out with 5:20 remaining in the fourth.
‘Our bench has come in all year and played well. Would I have rather of had our starters? Of course, but that is the way it is, that’s the way it goes,? said Fife.
Trailing 45-36 at the end of the fourth, Goodman’s scoring spree brought the Wolves to within five. Sophomore Bren Bergquist then snatched an offensive rebound and fluidly cut the Saginaw lead to three. On Clarkston’s next offensive possession, Joe Moran drilled a straight away three pointer from two steps beyond the arc to tie the game, 51-51.
‘I’d like to compliment coach Fife and his team. They came in here to our city and played one of the best quarterfinal games in history,? said Lou Dawkins.
The Trojans clawed their way to another three point lead with 1:30 to go, but Goodman tied the game again with an off-the-dribble three point shot.
Sensing the game would come down to the final possession, Saginaw worked the clock down to under :20 to go in the game. While the Trojans? subsequent bid to break the tie bounced off the rim, Bergquist was whistled for a loose ball foul as he tried to track down the errant shot, sending Saginaw’s Emanuel Southern to the free throw line with :13 left in the game. Southern stroked both tries from the line with ease setting up Clarkston’s final possession.
This is the third year in a row Clarkston has reached the quarterfinals and lost. They finish the season 23-3.
‘I hate to call it a jinx. When you have a 23-3 team playing another strong team, only one team will leave happy. I’m proud of our kids? effort, we gave it our best shot. I can’t even think about a jinx when we play that hard,? said Fife.
(See pictures from Clarkston’s final game of the season in the March 23rd edition of The Clarkston News.)