Both Boys and Girls seasons end in a sore note

Written Monday March 15th at 11:47 PM

The Den would like to Congratulate the Oakland Golden Grizzlies Men's basketball team on winning the Summit League championship and compete in the upcoming NCAA Tournament this weekend.

Well both Orion's boys and girls basketball seasons are over, the girls basketball team suffered a painful loss at Troy Athens High School to second ranked Birmingham Marian, while the boys basketball team suffered a tough loss to arch rival Clarkston in the District Finals at Clarkston High School.

The girls basketball team came into the highly anticipated regional semifinal match up with second ranked Birmingham Marian with some confidence after winning the district championship on it's home court over the Stoney Creek Cougars 54-48. However the first quarter had the same painful memories as what happened to the Dragons in the State semifinal game against fifth ranked Benton Harbor last season, Benton Harbor pressured the Dragons like crazy and outscored the Dragons in the first half in Ypsilanti, in rout to a 65-45 win for the Tigers over the Dragons. Also not forget that Benton Harbor's two best players Debra Meeks and Illinois player Destiny Williams combined for 57 of the Tigers 65 points, the Mustangs were more balanced though.

It was very similar for the Dragons against the Mustangs on their defensive pressure, it was the same as Benton Harbor. Birmingham Marian's man defense pressured the Dragons like crazy forcing turnovers, and creating unforced errors, the Dragons turned the ball over 12 times in the first quarter, similar to Benton Harbor with the turnovers. The Dragons were outscored 23-8 to start the game, and Birmingham Marian did not let up. The Dragons trailed 35-16 at the half, and just could not recover in the second half against a tough Birmingham Marian defense. Birmingham Marian went onto defeat the Dragons 56-38, and moved on to the regional final against fourth ranked Detroit Renaissance, they were 22-1 overall until they played and fell to Detroit Renaissance in the regional final 41-33 to close their season 22-2 overall. The Dragons were led by Alexis Haan's 12 points and Jackie Hood's 11 points. The Dragons finished the season 15-9 overall and 6-8 in the OAA Red, congrats ladies on a good season.

The boys basketball team entered districts with some momentum after the 66-49 victory over Troy to close out the regular season. The first round of districts put the Dragons against the Stoney Creek Cougars. The Cougars came into the contest 15-5 overall and 9-5 in the OAA White division were suffering from a disastrous loss to Rochester at home to close out it's regular season. Stoney Creek also beat the Dragons twice in the regular season (68-49 at Stoney Creek, and 61-55 at Lake Orion, despite the fact the Cougars led 40-18 at the half in that game.) The first round game, wasn't much of a game, as it was much of a shocker only in a positive way if your a Dragon fan.

The Dragons sent shock waves not only to their fans, but also Cougars, Wolves, and Highlanders fans as they shockingly took down the Cougars 64-34. The Dragons took advantage of Stoney Creek's cold shooting and went hot from the field. Orion went up 16-6 and then 35-15 at the half. Even though the Dragons wore their home white's, they were considered the VISITOR team at Clarkston and that's how the Dragons like it. The second half did not provide any mercy for the Cougars either, as they were outscored 13-4 at the end of the third quarter, and trailed 48-19 after three quarters. The fourth quarter proved to be interesting but the Dragons still outscored the Cougars 16-15, and won by a shocking 30 points. The Dragons were led by Alex Mayo's 23 points, and Derek Schrauben's 17 points, Ian Monk added nine points for Orion. Stoney Creek finished the year 15-6 overall and 9-5 in the OAA White. The Dragons moved on to take on Rochester who eliminated the Oxford Wildcats 55-41 at Rochester High School for their showdown in the district semifinals.

The district semifinal took place at Clarkston High School between Orion and Rochester. The Dragons took the season series with the Falcons (68-61 in double overtime at Lake Orion, and 52-47 at Rochester.) The Falcons enter the game at 6-15 overall, and 2-12 in the OAA White division, they had nothing to lose because they were an underdog coming to the game against the Dragons. The basketball game was ugly throughout, Orion was considered the HOME team on the Clarkston Wolves scoreboard in this one and was wearing the home white yet again. The Dragons only led 12-10 at the end of the first quarter, which sent shock waves because the Dragons scored 64 against Stoney Creek and the Cougars are a better team than the Falcons based on the regular season and 22-18 at the half, which also shocked even more people because Rochester came into the game only winning six games in 21 tries.

Mostly the reason why the score was that low was thanks to Rochester's pressure defense, which for some reason has given the Dragons trouble in their previous two meetings. The second half went back and fourth, as each team traded baskets. The Falcons took the lead on three occasions in the second half (28-27, 33-32, and 35-33) before the Dragons pulled away late in the fourth quarter for the victory in the district semifinals, a hard fought 47-41 win over the Falcons. The free throw line was a nightmare for the Dragons, even their shooting percentage was also a disaster but the Dragons found a way to win ugly. Rochester finished it's season 6-16 overall and 2-11 in the OAA White. Derek Schrauben led the Dragons with 22 points, Alex Mayo only scored eight points, as they moved into the district finals with arch rival Clarkston in the Wolves home gym, who beat Romeo 50-41 in the district semifinals, and Rochester Adams 66-55 in the first round of districts.

The district finals was a perfect atmosphere between not only the Dragons and the Wolves, but also the LO-Zone and the Clarkston Jungle. The rivalry was renewed. Clarkston entered the game 17-5 overall, and 10-4 in the OAA Red division. Both the Dragons and the Wolves wanted this game real bad. The Dragons motivation was they wanted to prove the doubters wrong that beating Clarkston would prove that the Dragons are back, it would also heal the football losses to Clarkston on the Wolves football field on two occasions and also the regional final would be at Lake Orion if the Dragons won. Clarkston's motivation was to give legendary head coach Dan Fife his 17th consecutive district title, and also head back to the State semifinals where the Wolves fell to Kalamazoo Central, who lost to Detroit Pershing in the State championship game last season.

The Dragons on the Clarkston Wolves scoreboard wore Green and was the VISITOR, something they were used to at Clarkston. The first quarter proved to be a battle of wills between the Dragons and the Wolves. The Dragons controlled the tempo of the game early, and took an 8-7 lead, shocking the Jungle and Wolves fans who believed that the game could be a blow-out like last season's game was. The second quarter was also evenly matched as well, only the Wolves took the second quarter (13-11) and a one point lead 20-19 at the half. But the Dragons were in it with Clarkston, a change from last year's disaster were the Dragons only scored 25 points the entire game in a 57-25 Wolves beat down at Waterford Mott in the district final. The third quarter was also an evenly matched quarter on the Clarkston Wolves scoreboard, only the Dragons could not take the lead at the end of the third quarter, despite the Dragons had numerous leads throughout the first, second, and third quarters. It was 31-30 Wolves score after three quarters.

Sadly what was yet to come proved to be a disastrous one for the Dragons, the fourth quarter. The Dragons has had four of their nine losses came in the fourth quarter alone were they were outscored badly (Southfield, Adams, Seaholm, and Clarkston.) The fourth quarter the Wolves outscored the Dragons 17-6, and made the Dragons panic, as they missed shots while Clarkston started to make their shots against the Dragons zone. Clarkston went on to a 48-36 victory over the Dragons and win their 17th district championship in a row. For the Dragons it was another painful loss to it's arch rival and it ends their revival season. Orion finished the year 14-9 overall and 9-5 in the OAA White. Clarkston hit eight three-pointers, the entire game. The Dragons hit three three-pointers. Alex Mayo led the Dragons with 11 points, while Derek Schrauben, and Ian Monk added six points each in the loss to Clarkston.

The season of the boys basketball team couldn't have gone any better, or better known as the revival team. Gone is the 4-18 season of 2008-2009 and it's disastrous tenure. A new coach in Mike Shafkalis was named after the disastrous season, some questioned the hiring after his junior varsity record in 2008-2009 but then again, his junior varsity team was depleted thanks to the call ups to varsity. The coaching change proved to be the right fit for not only Lake Orion, but also the community itself, and the players, most of them played under then coach Lance Davis and that disastrous season, believed in the new system that Shafkalis put in and also the culture change in Lake Orion. The Dragons started the season 1-3 but went 13-6 after that, which proved that the Dragons are a tough team to handle in the OAA White, while taking Seaholm to overtime at Lake Orion (scoring 78 points in a loss), proving their toughness, grit, and will to win. Also add the fact the Dragons freshman and junior varsity teams combined for a 32-7 record (JV 14-6, Freshman 18-1.)

The 2009-2010 boys basketball team set the foundation for the future of Lake Orion boys basketball. Even though there are new players coming in for next season from the freshman and Junior Varsity teams respectably, the foundation is already in place thanks to this team. This team won it's fans back, and the Orion, Clarkston game proved it, the LO-Zone was crazy, even tailgating before the game against Clarkston, next year they will be back in full force and likely could give Clarkston another run for it's money in districts. Next season expect the Dragons to compete in the OAA Red, they have enough talent to compete, work, determination, and win in the Red. Also they could give teams like Clarkston, Southfield, Southfield Lathrup, Avondale, Pontiac, North Farmington, and West Bloomfield a run for their money if they joined the Red. The future is bright in Lake Orion, and three things proved it, coaching, having fun, and just going out and giving it your all, that's all you can ask for. Congrats on a great season guys.