BY BRAD KRZYZANOWSKI
Special to The Review

The Dragons needed a win, and they got it in an emotion-filled game against Rochester Adams on Jan. 28. Lake Orion won the varsity basketball match-up by a score of 53-51.
Lake Orion was coming off a disappointing 48-32 loss against Birmingham Groves on Jan. 24.
The Dragons showed a lot of promise in the first half against Groves, and had a very good defensive effort.
“That was some of the best defense I’ve seen in a long time,” said Lake Orion head coach Jim Manzo. “Maybe the best since I’ve been on the job.”
The question that arose in the coach’s mind was if the team could rekindle that effort against a very good Adams team. The Dragons showed their coach that they have what it takes to compete in their league, showing passion in the game against the Highlanders that hasn’t been seen all year.
Adding to that passion is a new spark, and his name is Carl McDonald. The junior shows that even when times are tough, keeping to the game plan can get you anywhere.
“He doesn’t get flustered,” Manzo said. “You need that from your point guard, it’s a great quality.”
McDonald felt he gets some of that emotion and composure from his coach.
“During halftime, coach gave a great speech,” McDonald said. “He said we had to win, our goal was to beat each team at least once and we weren’t going to let them win in our house.”
The Dragons found themselves down by 3 before that speech, the result of a hot Adams’ start.
“They came out firing,” Manzo said. “We found ourselves down 21-11, and knew we couldn’t let them score anymore points.”
And the Dragons didn’t, which is a credit to their hustling defense and outstanding rebounding, plus conversions on the little things, such as free throws. The team was 19-26 for the game, perfecting something that has kept them behind all season.
The second and third quarters were the best basketball the team has played all season. Holding Adams to 11 points during that period probably swayed the momentum the Dragons’ way.
“We held them to one shot each trip down, contesting each one.” Manzo said.
But the Dragons weren’t winners yet, as they had to hold off a late Adams’ run that cut their lead from 13 to 4.
“We haven’t been in that situation all year (being ahead by 13),” Manzo said. “I don’t’ expect to see us collapse like that again.”
The team had a shot to put the game away during that stretch, scoring one point out of a possible seven-point play. Senior Joel Malkasian was fouled and Adams also received a technical foul. Malkasian converted on one free throw and the team turned the ball over after they were granted possession.
“That hurt big time,” Manzo said. “We needed at least five of those points.”
After Adams cut the lead to two, the team needed to play tough defense and the new team spark set a fire at the right time.
McDonald stepped in front of an Adams’ pass to run out the clock and give the Dragons a win to improve their record to 4-7. The Dragons’ effort paid off as they beat their rival 53-51, setting up an interesting game when the team visits Adams on February 25.
Lake Orion hosted West Bloomfield on Jan. 31. The Lakers are another team atop the OAA, undefeated in the league with a record of 10-1.
The Dragons came out firing, but couldn’t stop the powerhouse of the OAA from converting on big plays. The team knew this game wouldn’t be easy, and that there had to be a certain mindset to come out and win.
“We knew we had to have intensity,” said junior Luke Kendziorski. “They made the big plays and we couldn’t answer with any of our own.”
Lake Orion led 18-17 after the first quarter, assisted by the three-point shooting of senior guard Brent Skiba. The Dragons’ defense is what kept them ahead, which was a game plan instituted by Manzo.
“We executed the zone very well in the first quarter,” he said. “It bothered them enough to keep us ahead by one.”
The second quarter played out the same as the first, with the Lakers taking a 31-29 lead into halftime.
Another second half collapse is what kept the Dragons from achieving their fifth win of the season. Lake Orion’s scoring 16 points to West Bloomfield’s 30 in the half ultimately determined the outcome of the game. But this time it wasn’t due to the effort, but rather team dynamics.
“The whole second half we played as individuals instead of a team,” said Manzo.
That’s not to say there still weren’t some great performances by some members of the team to keep the game close in the third.
Malkasian came up with consecutive lay-ups to keep the Lakers’ lead to 10. He was helped by senior Robert Kennedy, who grabbed four rebounds in the third, which led to fast break points for the team.
Lake Orion traveled to Waterford Mott on Feb. 4, and to Troy on Friday.