Fenton Must Contend With Clarkston in District Basketball Opener

With Flint Carman-Ainsworth waiting in districts last year, the basketball team had a difficult road block in trying to follow up a Metro League title with a district title.

Carman-Ainsworth was moved out of Fenton's district this year and into a Saginaw area one, but the path to the title is arguably harder: the Cavaliers were replaced by perennial Class A power Clarkston, who Fenton will host in the first round Monday.

"It's interesting that Clarkston is in our district now, and they really seem to be clicking," said Fenton coach Tim Olszewski. "We've scouted them and they're an excellent, phenomenal team."

In what was by some accounts a down year for Clarkston, the Wolves rebounded from a 2-4 start to the season and are currently 13-5. If they win games this week against Southfield Lathrup and West Bloomfield, two teams they defeated by double digits earlier in the season, Clarkston will win a conference title.

Although the Wolves may lack the breakout stars they've had of the past, they have a team with a lot of depth led by sharp-shooting Nick Tatu, a Holly transfer, and Marcus Hardy.

Clarkston played two Flint area teams early in the season, losing to both Carman-Ainsworth and Flint Northern.

Fenton, currently 17-2 with only a non-league game against Powers Catholic remaining in the regular season, wrapped up a last week.

The Tigers will counter Clarkston's attack led by Eric Mowery, one of the top point guards in the Flint area. Mowery's best skill is controlling the tempo of the game while taking care of the ball. With athletic wings Ryan and Dylan Hickoff and their ability to fill lanes and run the floor, Mowery has two targets who are good finishers and who combine to average nearly 35 points per game.

Center Charlie Herzog is one of the leading shot blockers in the area and in recent games, energetic role players like Conor Muntin, Devan Beagle, Damon Thomas and Joe Eddy have all made significant contributions offensively and defensively.

"Those guys (the bench) have helped turn the tide for us a little bit (in recent games)," Olszewski said, noting that having a healthy lineup heading into the post season is a big plus. "The two games we've lost, we've been incomplete. We haven't been beat when we've been able to put our full healthy lineup on the floor."

The winner of the Fenton-Clarkston game plays Holly in the second round. On the other side of the bracket, Swartz Creek plays Grand Blanc with the winner advancing to face Brandon.

"It's going to be a battle for, but that's another goal for us," Olszewski said. "We want to beat Clarkston and win a district title."