Written Monday December 21st at 11:55 PM
The Dragons Den Congrats the Dallas Stars on Saturday's Victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
Anyway what is going on with the Lake Orion Girls Basketball team, after a 4-0 start to the season? League play has started to become a nightmare to see for the Dragons and their fans. This week the Dragons were 0-2 for the week with shocking losses to Rochester (47-32) and to Pontiac (52-37). Now the Dragons stand at 4-2 overall, and 0-2 in OAA Red play. Both losses were each by 15 points, which has Dragons coach Steve Roberts puzzling. The Dragons have been outscored 99-69 in both of their losses, which is also a major concern to Roberts. The junior varsity ladies are 3-3 in their young season, after suffering a tough loss to Pontiac on Friday, while the Freshman ladies are 2-4 in this young season, and have lost three in a row recently to Adams, Rochester, and now to Pontiac.
Pontiac was and is still is a really good basketball team, even with the loss of coach Leola Greer to cancer. The Phoenix have been playing inspired basketball with the loss of their coach and beloved figure of Pontiac, and also the merger of both Pontiac Northern and Pontiac Central high schools has also helped make Pontiac into the way they are right now. But back to the Dragons mistakes against Pontiac, allowing five three-pointers against a team like the Phoenix who is a pretty good three-point shooting team is not going to be pretty. The effort was there though by the Dragons but a win wasn't meant to be on that Friday night at Lake Orion High School.
Rochester was perhaps the most disappointing loss for the Dragons in this early young season. The Falcons had just three starters back from a disastrous season, a new coach, and they were win less (0-2) coming into the game. The Falcons played one of their best games of the season and had balanced scoring throughout. They made the Dragons lives miserable by causing turnovers and hitting timely shots when they had to do so. Those are prime candidates to be in line for an upset is three point shooting, and causing teams to turn the ball over, that's what happened in that game Tuesday night at Rochester High School.
Perhaps these two losses were a good thing for the Dragons. They are still a very young and inexperienced team but their some things that need to be corrected, especially the turnovers before Tuesday January 5th when the Dragons return for a non league game at Madison Heights Madison, and then back to OAA Red play on Thursday January 7th when the Dragons travel to Lathrup Village to play a hostile Southfield Lathrup Chargers team, who is loaded, and has also played a tough non conference schedule to prepare themselves for the OAA Red season.
The Lake Orion Boys Basketball team had an emotional 44-42 win over Romeo on Friday Night, at the Dog Pound in Macomb County. The win at Romeo snapped a tough three game losing streak for the Dragons (All of those losses came by less than 11 points). The Dragons are now one win away from matching last years win total of three games, when they finished 3-17 last season. The Dragons freshman and junior varsity teams are also playing well as well, both teams are 4-1 so far, their only losses were to Southfield, the freshman loss was in double overtime (63-60), and the junior varsity was a four point loss to the Blue Jays, an OAA Red division team (67-63).
On the Varsity side you have to give credit to head coach Mike Shafakalas, in just his first year, and also his players. They have been very competitive throughout this non conference season, with wins over Bloomfield Hills Lahser, who were projected to win the OAA Blue division (72-56), and now Romeo, a Macomb Area Conference Red division and also a Macomb County powerhouse. Things should be looking up for the Dragons, after the tough back to back schedule they had to play this season. The team also believes that the OAA White is winnable and they can win every game, they play with the back to backs and the schedule they were put into to start the 2009-2010 basketball season.
The Dragons losses however haven't been good though, but they been competitive and had chances to win those games, all those games were tough losses to handle. They had one game that was stolen from them by the home book keeper against Avondale (63-59), they came back in that game from down 51-27 at the end of three quarters until the screw job happened. In the game against Southfield the Dragons had Southfield on the ropes, the game was tied 36-36 after three quarters. But the fourth quarter was a nightmare for them, they allowed a 20-6 run in the fourth quarter, and fell 56-42 to the Blue Jays at Orion. Hartland was a long travel into Livingston County after a tough setback against the Blue Jays, but they were competitive throughout, but they fell short once again 48-37 in that contest to the Eagles.
The Dragons are 2-3 so far this season, and league play (OAA White) kicks off for the Dragons beginning in 2010. They play host on Tuesday January 5th against the Berkley Bears, who upset Catholic League power Orchard Lake St. Marys earlier in the season, and also on Friday January 8th when the Falcons of Rochester pay a visit to Lake Orion for a OAA White showdown of division rivals.
Maybe 2010, can be different for both boys and girls basketball teams, but 2009 especially for the girls was a special one to watch as they went to the MHSAA State Semifinals, as for the boys, eh not so much.
Anyway have a Merry Christmas and see you in 2010. GO DRAGONS.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Dragons have been disrespected by the media with projections recently, proving doubters that they can still compete at a high level
Written Thursday December 10th, at 11:04 PM
Is there a silver line to the disrespect that both the Lake Orion boys and girls basketball teams have been getting recently. Projections are projections in my books. Well the records are pretty much misleading when it comes to competition, but when league play comes for both Orion teams all bets are off.
Lets start with the boys, last year was a disaster 3-17, let the coach go and start over new. This season the Dragons were picked to finish last in the Oakland Activities Association White division, but a recent 72-57 victory over Bloomfield Hills Lasher has proven otherwise. This season I predicted that the Dragons could go 15-5 or 14-6, and I still believe that they can go 15-5 or 14-6. They have a new coach in Mike Shafakalas, and the players seem to be very happy with the way everything has been going so far. The next three games are tough those with games against Avondale on Friday on the road, Southfield at home Tuesday, and a trip into Livingston County against Hartland on Wednesday.
Now onto the girls, the transition has smoothed for the Dragons, and a recent victory over Adams proved that with a 46-33 win over the Highlanders. This team I guarantee is going to surprise a lot of people, and if it hasn't look out. The Lady Dragons are 4-0 with wins over the top two teams projected to compete for the Oakland Activities Association White division crown in Avondale, and also Stoney Creek. Also they did beat Oxford, and now Adams. Now they go on and complete the three game Rochester school trip with an Oakland Activities Red division rival Rochester on Tuesday at Rochester's gym.
Now when division play comes, we may never know where the season is heading for both teams, but so far it's on the right path, as we head into the month of December and also Christmas time. Also this season I expect a lot of media people to take Lake Orion a little bit more seriously as the season progresses on.
Is there a silver line to the disrespect that both the Lake Orion boys and girls basketball teams have been getting recently. Projections are projections in my books. Well the records are pretty much misleading when it comes to competition, but when league play comes for both Orion teams all bets are off.
Lets start with the boys, last year was a disaster 3-17, let the coach go and start over new. This season the Dragons were picked to finish last in the Oakland Activities Association White division, but a recent 72-57 victory over Bloomfield Hills Lasher has proven otherwise. This season I predicted that the Dragons could go 15-5 or 14-6, and I still believe that they can go 15-5 or 14-6. They have a new coach in Mike Shafakalas, and the players seem to be very happy with the way everything has been going so far. The next three games are tough those with games against Avondale on Friday on the road, Southfield at home Tuesday, and a trip into Livingston County against Hartland on Wednesday.
Now onto the girls, the transition has smoothed for the Dragons, and a recent victory over Adams proved that with a 46-33 win over the Highlanders. This team I guarantee is going to surprise a lot of people, and if it hasn't look out. The Lady Dragons are 4-0 with wins over the top two teams projected to compete for the Oakland Activities Association White division crown in Avondale, and also Stoney Creek. Also they did beat Oxford, and now Adams. Now they go on and complete the three game Rochester school trip with an Oakland Activities Red division rival Rochester on Tuesday at Rochester's gym.
Now when division play comes, we may never know where the season is heading for both teams, but so far it's on the right path, as we head into the month of December and also Christmas time. Also this season I expect a lot of media people to take Lake Orion a little bit more seriously as the season progresses on.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Dragons Ladies, Hanging Tough Again.
Written Saturday December 5th, at 12:03 AM
Last year was last year, and it was a first for the Lake Orion Girls Basketball program, the Dragons won their first Regional Championship, and moved on to the State Semi Finals, before bowing out to eventual State Champion Benton Harbor in Ypsilanti. So what could be in store for the Dragons heading into this girls basketball season? Well maybe the same if the Dragons get their way.
This season the Dragons were picked to finish fourth in the Oakland Activities Association Red Division behind North Farmington, Southfield-Lathrup, and Clarkston. In other polls the Dragons were picked to finish third behind North Farmington and Southfield-Lathrup.
Maybe the reason why the Dragons were picked to finish fourth in the OAA Red was because the Dragons had to replace four of it's five starters from last season, including the loss of Bethany Watterworth to Oakland University. It's lone starter being Senior Alexis Haan, who takes over the center position after playing the last three years as the power forward and so far the transition from power forward to center has been a smooth transition. Haan has averaged 19.5 points per game in the last two games. The Dragons also moved Senior forward Jackie Hood from power forward to small forward has played huge dividends for the Dragons, in her last two games Hood has averaged under ten points per game, Hood all of a sudden has also became a star in the making as well.
Lets not forget that last season some of the current players on Varsity played junior varsity basketball. The Dragons Junior Varsity team finished 18-2 last season, so the Dragons do have experience of success on their side. Also this season the junior varsity team this should should be interesting yet again, and competitive in the tough OAA Red, along with the freshman team.
Also give credit to the coaches, especially the Oakland County Coach of the Year in Steve Roberts, and also his assistant coaches in Junior Varsity coach Kevin Kopec, Zac Abel and freshman coach Scott Simon. Kopec had had two 20-0 seasons, as JV coach, and also has a 59-3 record as a coach in the last three seasons. Roberts has lead the Varsity Dragons to a 44-5 record in the last three seasons, which includes this season as well, and likely more victories to come in the next few days, and months.
The transition for the Dragons of youth and experience, has led them to a 2-0 start, with wins over Avondale and Oxford by a combined score of 108-62. The Dragons play Stoney Creek next followed by Rochester Adams. both games are on the road.
It maybe time to over think the projections by the media, North Farmington is also 2-0, but Clarkston is 0-2. After all projections mean nothing, it's where you finish that matters, and were you want to be come playoff time. I wouldn't be surprised another deep playoff run is in the future for this team, after all at least my projection is safe.
Last year was last year, and it was a first for the Lake Orion Girls Basketball program, the Dragons won their first Regional Championship, and moved on to the State Semi Finals, before bowing out to eventual State Champion Benton Harbor in Ypsilanti. So what could be in store for the Dragons heading into this girls basketball season? Well maybe the same if the Dragons get their way.
This season the Dragons were picked to finish fourth in the Oakland Activities Association Red Division behind North Farmington, Southfield-Lathrup, and Clarkston. In other polls the Dragons were picked to finish third behind North Farmington and Southfield-Lathrup.
Maybe the reason why the Dragons were picked to finish fourth in the OAA Red was because the Dragons had to replace four of it's five starters from last season, including the loss of Bethany Watterworth to Oakland University. It's lone starter being Senior Alexis Haan, who takes over the center position after playing the last three years as the power forward and so far the transition from power forward to center has been a smooth transition. Haan has averaged 19.5 points per game in the last two games. The Dragons also moved Senior forward Jackie Hood from power forward to small forward has played huge dividends for the Dragons, in her last two games Hood has averaged under ten points per game, Hood all of a sudden has also became a star in the making as well.
Lets not forget that last season some of the current players on Varsity played junior varsity basketball. The Dragons Junior Varsity team finished 18-2 last season, so the Dragons do have experience of success on their side. Also this season the junior varsity team this should should be interesting yet again, and competitive in the tough OAA Red, along with the freshman team.
Also give credit to the coaches, especially the Oakland County Coach of the Year in Steve Roberts, and also his assistant coaches in Junior Varsity coach Kevin Kopec, Zac Abel and freshman coach Scott Simon. Kopec had had two 20-0 seasons, as JV coach, and also has a 59-3 record as a coach in the last three seasons. Roberts has lead the Varsity Dragons to a 44-5 record in the last three seasons, which includes this season as well, and likely more victories to come in the next few days, and months.
The transition for the Dragons of youth and experience, has led them to a 2-0 start, with wins over Avondale and Oxford by a combined score of 108-62. The Dragons play Stoney Creek next followed by Rochester Adams. both games are on the road.
It maybe time to over think the projections by the media, North Farmington is also 2-0, but Clarkston is 0-2. After all projections mean nothing, it's where you finish that matters, and were you want to be come playoff time. I wouldn't be surprised another deep playoff run is in the future for this team, after all at least my projection is safe.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Football Players, Off Season, Boys Basketball and Wrestling in Lake Orion, also a tribute to Robert Russell
Written Tuesday December 1st, at 12:07 PM
As the MHSAA football season comes to a close with the crowning of eight state champions, most football players will fully ship their focus from football to either Basketball, Hockey, or Wrestling when it comes to winter sports. Also most players in January will go back to the weight room, as everybody else would do and work-out on conditioning and strengthening their bodies for the next football season at 6 AM until the first bell that starts the school day off at 7:30 AM.
At Lake Orion the atmosphere is no different, several players will be doing basketball, some will do hockey, some will do Special Olympics basketball, and others will do wrestling. Also there are others who will be doing power-lifting. In Power-lifting the Dragons have one of the best weightlifting programs in the State, also they have delivered two state championships. Basketball and Wrestling will go through transition period, as they are replacing two coaches, one who retired and the other one was fired.
Orion Wrestling coach Doug Kline retired after taking his Dragons to the Wrestling State semifinals before bowing out to Rockford last season, Kline leaves with one State Championship, being in 1990. Orion will still be a power once again in Wrestling, under Doug Kline's apprentice in waiting, who will get his chance to keep up the Orion Wrestling tradition.
In Basketball things are different, last season Orion hired Lance Davis to be their next head coach, after taking over for the retired Jim Manzo, things did not go so well last season as the Dragons finished last in the Oakland Activities Association White division and had a dismal 3-17 record, finishing with a 4-18 record with a loss to OAA Red division and arch rival Clarkston in a rout in the District Finals. After the year Orion fired Davis after issues with some of the players, and replaced him with Junior Varsity Coach Mike Shafikalas, Shafikalas coached the JV team last year at Orion, his record as coach of JV was very deceiving because most of his best players went up to varsity, with a 5-15 record. This season the players trust him and his system, maybe something special could be in store at Lake Orion this season if the players can trust their coach and their coach can trust the players.
The Dragons Den gives out it's deep respect to the Russell family, after their loss of their son Robert. Robert played Junior Varsity football this season as a sophomore. He would have been on varsity for his junior season of football, we would all miss him, god bless.
As the MHSAA football season comes to a close with the crowning of eight state champions, most football players will fully ship their focus from football to either Basketball, Hockey, or Wrestling when it comes to winter sports. Also most players in January will go back to the weight room, as everybody else would do and work-out on conditioning and strengthening their bodies for the next football season at 6 AM until the first bell that starts the school day off at 7:30 AM.
At Lake Orion the atmosphere is no different, several players will be doing basketball, some will do hockey, some will do Special Olympics basketball, and others will do wrestling. Also there are others who will be doing power-lifting. In Power-lifting the Dragons have one of the best weightlifting programs in the State, also they have delivered two state championships. Basketball and Wrestling will go through transition period, as they are replacing two coaches, one who retired and the other one was fired.
Orion Wrestling coach Doug Kline retired after taking his Dragons to the Wrestling State semifinals before bowing out to Rockford last season, Kline leaves with one State Championship, being in 1990. Orion will still be a power once again in Wrestling, under Doug Kline's apprentice in waiting, who will get his chance to keep up the Orion Wrestling tradition.
In Basketball things are different, last season Orion hired Lance Davis to be their next head coach, after taking over for the retired Jim Manzo, things did not go so well last season as the Dragons finished last in the Oakland Activities Association White division and had a dismal 3-17 record, finishing with a 4-18 record with a loss to OAA Red division and arch rival Clarkston in a rout in the District Finals. After the year Orion fired Davis after issues with some of the players, and replaced him with Junior Varsity Coach Mike Shafikalas, Shafikalas coached the JV team last year at Orion, his record as coach of JV was very deceiving because most of his best players went up to varsity, with a 5-15 record. This season the players trust him and his system, maybe something special could be in store at Lake Orion this season if the players can trust their coach and their coach can trust the players.
The Dragons Den gives out it's deep respect to the Russell family, after their loss of their son Robert. Robert played Junior Varsity football this season as a sophomore. He would have been on varsity for his junior season of football, we would all miss him, god bless.
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