Following last week’s loss, long-time Wolves Varsity Basketball Coach Dan Fife is looking for the answers on how it happened.
The boys headed to Southfield last Friday to break the three-way tie for first place in the OAA Red league, with the Bluejays and Southfield-Lathrup.
To the disbelief of many Clarkston fans – the Wolves dropped out of first place after losing, 63-58.
‘It’s something we need to figure out,? said Fife, after the weekend. ‘Some of the things we are doing at this time we shouldn’t be doing. We are challenging the system.?
The first half was a slow start for the boys as the went into break behind, 34-15. A challenge that came after Matt Kamieniecki sat out for most of the half after receiving two fouls before the second quarter began.
‘We went through the motions and Southfield got to a quick start against us,? Fife explained.
During the third quarter the boys kept Southfield to only 11 points while they doubled their points and brought them up to 30. When the clock started the final eight minutes of the game, the boys were ready to put the pressure on.
Fife called for a full-court press defense making Southfield lose control and giving the Wolves a chance to score.
‘Everytime we would respond, they would respond,? said Fife. ‘We played pretty well to stay with it.?
But the boys couldn’t pull ahead and ended the game four points shy from a tie – to put the game in overtime.
Kamieniecki led with 26 points – a game-high.
Fife mentioned it could be concentration the boys are lacking in explaining the loss.
‘Concentration is the key,? he said. ‘Another is being ready. When we don’t come to the game ready to play, we mess with the Basketball Gods. We can’t afford to do that. The basketball teams we play are too good to do that against. We just have to figure it out and go forward.?
The boys beat West Bloomfield on Feb. 16, 61-28.
Kamieniecki led with 14 points and Marcus Hardy add 11 to the board.
The boys played Rochester Adams on Tuesday.
They head to North Farmington on Friday and Avondale next Tuesday.
‘This week is a tough week,? said Fife. ‘They should be at this time of year. It’s getting down to crunch time and we need to be ready to play. The mistakes, careless mistakes or not being ready is messing with stuff and we can’t afford to do.?
But he added it wasn’t the lack of trying from the team.
‘They are trying – it just hasn’t worked out for them,? he said.
The team has four more games of the regular season before they head into district playoffs – beginning the week of March 8.
The games on Friday and Tuesday begin at 5:30 p.m. with the JV game, varsity follows.
The freshman team hosts North Farmington on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., Clarkston Junior High School.