Macomb County, Oakland County

LCNorth boys hoops tops Lake Orion, advances to state semi's

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O'Blenes L'Anse Creuse North junior Tyler Conklin heads to the hoop with the ball during the Class A quarterfinal March 20 against Lake Orion at UDM's Calihan Hall. Conklin and the Crusaders are headed to the state semifinals after topping the Dragons 46-40. Photo by Patricia O'Blenes L'Anse Creuse North junior Tyler Conklin heads to the hoop with the ball during the Class A quarterfinal March 20 against Lake Orion at UDM's Calihan Hall. Conklin and the Crusaders are headed to the state semifinals after topping the Dragons 46-40.

DETROIT — Macomb L'Anse Creuse North is headed to the program's first ever boys basketball state semifinal, as the Crusaders topped Lake Orion High 46-40 March 20 in a Class A boys MHSAA state quarterfinal at Calihan Hall on the campus of the University of Detroit-Mercy.

"For us to get this far, I think it's great for our county, I think it's great for our community, and obviously, it takes our individual basketball program to the next level," LCN coach Jay Seletsky said.

The next level for LCN (22-4) brings on Saginaw High (23-2) in a 2:50 p.m. March 23 state semifinal at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University.

Lake Orion, meanwhile, wraps up its season at 16-10 overall.

"What these guys did this year was incredible," Lake Orion coach Tom Risi said of his program's first run to the state quarterfinals.

"I thought the guys played hard tonight," he said. "Sometimes, it just doesn't work out for you."

Junior guard Robert Hopkins led the victorious Crusaders with 17 points, while sophomore center John McCarthy led Lake Orion with 16 points.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040. Follow Jon on Twitter.