Clarkston’s boys basketball team is now on the plus side of the ledger for the season.
The Wolves earned that right with a 58-36 win against host Southfield in Oakland Activities Association Division I action Friday. Clarkston improved to 9-8 overall and 6-3 in league play, while Southfield fell to 3-12 overall and 0-10 in league play.
According to Coach Dan Fife, the fact the team has a winning record hasn’t quite hit them yet.
“I don’t know if anyone even realizes it except us,” he said. “I don’t even know if my team knows it. It’s a win in an away game in OAA I and they’re always hard.”
Junior forward Chris Johnston was the main man for Clarkston, leading all scorers with 21 points. “He really played well and made smart decisions when he got the ball in the low post,” Fife said. “He seems more relaxed than he has in the past. We need him to do well for us.”
Senior guard Justin Whetstone added 10 points for the Wolves.
The two teams started off slowly offensively, as the Wolves held a 9-7 advantage after the first quarter. “A lot of it is just the immaturity of our team,” Fife said of the team’s slow start. “Our kids are still not quite sure what to expect at the start of the game. I think the whole thing is consistency of play for 32 minutes, regardless. I’m more concerned about consistency on defense than offense.”
Clarkston opened things up in the second, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-10 to take a 27-17 lead at the half.
The Wolves blew the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the Blue Jays 17-6 to take a commanding 44-23 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Wolves were also successful in their other game of the week.
Both Rochester and Clarkston were looking for a victory during their Tuesday, Feb. 11 game to stay in the OAA I race. However, it was the Wolves that earned that key victory, as they used a first-quarter outburst to defeat the visiting Falcons 71-53.
Before the Falcons knew what hit them, the Wolves, using their three-point shooting skills to their advantage, had taken a 20-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Wolves connected on eight three-pointers in the game, and Rochester was never able to find their shooting rhythm.
The Falcons managed to trim the Wolves’ lead to 31-19 at the half, but the game was never really in doubt. The Wolves held a 48-37 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Sophomore Brad Goodman and junior Mark Thornberry led the three-point shooting parade, each connecting on three long-distance shots. Goodman led the Wolves with 18 points (including eight-of-eight from the free throw line), while Thornberry finished with 13 points.
Sophomore Robbie Clark added 11 points, while Whetstone finished with 10.
The Wolves returned home for a key league contest Tuesday against Pontiac Central. Clarkston hosts Southfield-Lathrup Friday at 7 p.m.
At this stage, the Wolves are in control of their own destiny in league play, according to Fife. If they win the rest of their league games, they will at least tie for the OAA I title, something Fife felt he couldn’t envision at the beginning of the 2003 calendar year.
“I didn’t know if we’d have this opportunity,” he said. “I’m excited for the kids.”