By Dan Shriner
Review Editor
How much can a Dragon run?
Quite a bit if they are a part of this season’s Lake Orion boys? varsity basketball team.
Coach Tom Risi sees some great potential in this year’s team and expects the team to play a fast-paced game and run, run, run as they learn and progress through the year.
The team is young, with only one player, Joe Turnbull, having varsity experience. But, Risi sees some great potential and athleticism among the group.
‘This team is very athletic and once they learn they will be very good. Those who come to watch us will get their money’s worth,? Risi said. ‘It might look like a track meet sometimes and as soon as we can harness it and do good things, we will be hard to stop. Right now we are a bunch of thoroughbreds who don’t know how fast to run. It will come.?
The team will compete in the OAA White Division where the team to beat will be Oak Park. In order to get ready for the start of division play, Lake Orion has scheduled some very tough opponents.
They will meet Adams, Clarkston, Southfield and Southfield Lathrup early. These are all good teams who will be great learning experiences for the young Dragons.
‘We have a brutal schedule in the first six or seven games but by the time we hit conference play we will be battle tested,? Risi said.
The team’s captains are Turnbull and Tyler Sites. ‘These will be two of the better captains we have had in a while,? Risi said.
The starters are Turnbull, David Gomez, Noah Harris, Nicholas Fox and Elmalik Martin. Sites is expected to be one of the important players coming off the bench, as are juniors Chris Dudek and Jaylen Wiggins.
The Dragons will need team speed because Fox is the tallest of the group, at 6-foot-6 while the others are barely six feet tall. Risi acknowledged that if the group isn’t shooting well, rebounding could be a concern.
That’s why it’s going to be important for the Dragons to play an up-tempo, fast-breaking style.
‘We will get better as the season goes on,? Risi said. ‘We will be fun to watch.?