St. Clair Shores

Lakeview girls hoops team hopes strong defense, rebounding lead to turnaround

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes The St. Clair Shores Lakeview girls basketball team, with an admitted lack of size, is doing all it can to guard opposing post players. Pictured is junior forward Sandra Moffitt, right, during a Jan. 15 62-32 win at Roseville. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes The St. Clair Shores Lakeview girls basketball team, with an admitted lack of size, is doing all it can to guard opposing post players. Pictured is junior forward Sandra Moffitt, right, during a Jan. 15 62-32 win at Roseville.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Prior to the start of the season, St. Clair Shores Lakeview girls basketball coach Joe Charrette said a lack of size would be an issue for his team.

That has proven to be the case, but the second-year Huskies coach has devised a plan he believes will limit the number of touches by opposing post players.

“We’re doing a little bit of everything,” said Charrette, whose team sat at 5-5, 1-2 Macomb Area Conference Blue Division, at press time. “We’re fronting the other team’s bigs, and if they do happen to catch a post-entry pass, we’re sagging down and double-teaming the ball.”

Lakeview is playing solid defense so far this season, allowing 40.5 points per game — a number that puts it in the top third of all MAC teams. Charrette has also placed an emphasis on team rebounding, pushing each player who’s on the court at a given time to attack the glass.

Aside from his plan to attack opposing post players, Charrette has implemented a man-to-man, fullcourt defense with a goal of creating turnovers that lead to easy scores for Lakeview. At press time, the Huskies averaged 48.4 points per game.

Lakeview junior Leah Charrette said the team understands it’s a bit vertically challenged, but the effort will always be there. Leah Charrette, along with seniors Sarah Moen and Sam Bullaro, are expected to lead that charge, according to Joe Charrette.

“We’re not gonna back down to any team or player,” said Leah Charrette, the Huskies’ leading returning scorer. “We know what we have to do. We’re working hard every day.”

Joe Charrette said his goal remains to challenge for a MAC Blue title. Lakeview was 2.5 games behind first-place Sterling Heights High at press time. He said he thinks early season issues will subside soon, making his team a factor in the league and district championship races.

“We just need to put everything together as a team. That’s what it comes down to, because we have a lot of talent,” Moen said.

The Huskies next hit the court for a matchup with Warren Fitzgerald, set for 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at Lakeview.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jason Carmel Davis at jdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107. Follow Jason Carmel on Twitter.