The Lake Orion Dragon Boys? Basketball team battled against the Highlanders of Rochester-Adams on Friday, Feb. 25, and while they fought hard to keep the game on the offensive, the uphill battle only got steeper.
The game started quickly with the Highlanders getting first possession, scoring at the seven minute mark and drawing first blood. They widened their lead 30 seconds later, bringing the score to 4-0 only 1:30 minutes into the game. The Dragons would not remain scoreless for long however, and with 5:41 left in the first scored two points, earning a penalty shot in the process to bring the score to 4-3.
It was the closest the game would be for the rest of the night.
Thanks to a pair or penalty shots and a brutal offense, the Highlanders made hoop after hoop, and by the quarter’s end would hold 20 point to the Dragon’s 7.
The second quarter would end even worse, as the Dragon offense just couldn’t penetrate Rochester-Adams determined guards. However, if the first quarter was the Dragon’s strongest defense, their offense in the second proved to be gaining steam. The Dragons would garner an additional 10 points bringing their total to 17. However, as they pushed harder, so did Rochester-Adams, which scored a humbling 22 points, bringing their total to 42.
While the rest of the game was defined by what happened in the second period, the Dragons continued to improve, if slightly. The third quarter saw the Green and White score an additional 10 points, bringing them to 27, while their defense corralled the rampaging Highlanders to a degree, only allowing 14 points through. Third quarter ended 56 to 44.
The Dragons did not lose hope in the fourth quarter despite the Highlanders score doubling their own. Pushing harder than ever, Lake Orion managed to bring in 17 points, putting them closer to their opponents with a score of 44. Yet the Highlanders had come to win, and put that will into a seemingly increased agility that granted them the same number of points. The horn sounded as the score-board reading 73-44 faded and the crowd solemnly packed up.
Head coach Mike Shafkalis was absent from the game due to a death in the family.
The Lake Orion Boy’s Basketball team played again against Ferndale on Tuesday, March 1 and against Rochester Hills Stoney Creek on Wednesday, March 3.