RIDING BALANCED EFFORT, WOLFPACK HOOPSTERS HEAD NORTH & SNAG VICTORY

The Clarkston boys basketball team went on the road on Tuesday and got some vengeance for a defeat last year at the hands of Flint Northern while at the same time staying perfect on the current campaign by beating the host Vikings 75-69.

Running their record to 4-0, Clarkston showed off its versatility and balance, battering Northern from all angles.

Wolfpack senior guard Nick Tatu led Clarkston's scoring charge with a game-high 25 points. Matt Dellinger and Jordan Dasuqi put up 17 apiece and Mitch Baenziger posted 16.

Dellinger and Baenziger, both seniors, and Dasuqi, a standout junior, registered five assists each as well.

TEAM FIFE will have precious little time to savor and celebrate its win over Northern, since the Wolfpack are slated for a tough game on Thursday night with upstart Troy Athens, a squad which ran its record to 4-0 as well on Tuesday by blowing out Oxford.

Thursday showdown in the Wolfden provides Clarkston another opportunity to avenge a loss from last winter when the Red Hawks took down C-Town for the first time in school history.

As freshman, Dellinger and Tatu were members of Clarkston's 2009 final four team. Dan Fife-coached teams have captured an eyebrow-raising 18 consecutive district titles.

Next year, Dellinger, the Wolves' starting point guard, will be playing football in college at Kent State, where he's expected to join the Golden Flashes as an outside linebacker.

Back in the fall, with Dellinger and C-Town starting center Zach Collins, holding down the school's defense on the gridiron, Baenziger captained the offense, starting at quarterback on the Wolves' state-power football squad.