Ravens Rout Clawson in Season Opener

basketball guard Sami Stortmont says she wanted to win and start the season off on a good note. Mission accomplished.

The 5-foot-8 sophomore guard scored a team-high 26 points -- and added eight steals in the process -- and Royal Oak routed Clawson 46-30 in the season opener for both teams Tuesday night. "We were looking to play as a team and just have fun," Stortmont said.

The Ravens were tied with the Clawson High School Trojans 12-all at the end of the first period. But an overpowering press defense began to wear down Clawson in the second quarter. 

"We came out intense in the second quarter, we got our transition offense rolling," Royal Oak coach Brian Sopata said. "We built on our ability to run and score in transition."

Royal Oak tallied 19 steals from the second quarter on, a testament to its emphasis on physical play and defense. Stormont led the team in steals with nine. Alexus Griffin added five.

"We just got tired out there, I'm still confident in our starting five, but they just got tired too quick," Clawson coach Kelly Horne said. "We came out and took it to them in the first (quarter), we played hard tonight and our girls wanted to win. Tonight's performance was the best I've seen this team play in three years."

The Ravens trailed by four points early in the second after Jasmin James scored on a lay-up in transition and Crystal Allen drained a three. Royal Oak then went on a 13-0 run to make the scored 26-18 in their favor at the half.

Stortmont opened up the run with a transition lay-up following a steal by Shannon Pingle. Stortmont went on to score 10 of the Ravens' 13 points during the run, shooting 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-3 from the foul line.

From that point on it was all Royal Oak as the Ravens outscored Clawson 12-2 in the third quarter.

James and Allen each had nine points for the Trojans.

Sydney Gossett, a senior guard, scored eight points for the Ravens and added  three steals. Royal Oak shot 23-for-41 from the field.

Royal Oak plays again Friday at home against Lamphere. Sopata said that he knows his team can improve, and that they need better rebounding. He added that this was the first game for many of the girls at the varsity level and they had jitters.

Stortmond agreed, saying that they have to work on finishing and boxing out.

The Trojans play this Thursday at home against Birmingham Roeper.

"We weren't able to get the ball in the post to Ali (Costine) really at all tonight," Horne added. "We have to work on that, if we get touches inside we know good things will happen. We have to work harder this week in practice, mostly with our defense, a teams practice reflects in it's game on the court."