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.