Lakers beat opponents by average of 56 en route to title

The first step has been taken by Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes in its quest for a second straight Class D state championship, as the Lakers have a district championship checked off their list.

Our Lady defeated host Everest Collegiate, 64-20, in a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class D district final on Friday, March 4.

“This game was never close,” said Our Lady Head Coach Steve Robak. “We controlled the game from the opening tip.”

Sisters Lauren and Lexie Robak led the Lakers with 19 points each, while Carlee Cottrell had 12 points and Ava Doetsch scored 9.

Two days earlier, on Wednesday, March 2, Our Lady defeated the Frankel Jewish Academy of West Bloomfield in convincing fashion, 72-4.

“Unfortunately, this kind of game is never fun for anyone and although we played our non-starters most of the game, other than the first one and a half quarters, the score was very lopsided. Jewish Academy played hard, but were just over-matched with our team,” Coach Robak said.

The Robak sisters each had 14 points for Our Lady, as did Doetsch.

The Lakers were certain to be challenged in their next matchup as they faced their biggest rival, Marine City Cardinal Mooney for the fourth time this season in an MHSAA regional semi-final on Tuesday, March 8, after press time at Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, in what is expected to mark another memorable chapter between the two schools.

The winner will face either Plymouth Christian or Southfield Christian for the regional championship tomorrow, Thursday, March 10.

The regional champion will then play in a Class D state quarter-final at Waterford Mott on Tuesday, March 15.

Our Lady defeated Cardinal Mooney in their first meeting of the season at home, 53-44, on Jan. 17. Lauren Robak led the Lakers with 31 points, including 14 points in the fourth quarter, along with 19 rebounds, 6 steals, 2 blocks and 2 assists.

However, Cardinal Mooney struck back and defeated the Lakers 54-45 on Feb. 3, as both teams shared the Catholic League East title. The Lakers were without Lauren Robak, who was stricken with mono, and Doetsch, who was recovering from an ankle injury suffered while playing travel soccer.

Our Lady would have the last laugh as it defeated Cardinal Mooney, 54-45, in the Catholic League C-D Division title game at Calihan Hall on the campus of the University of Detroit Mercy on Feb. 20 to win its third straight Catholic League title.

Last year, the Lakers defeated Cardinal Mooney, 39-32, in an MHSAA regional final at Oakland Christian, as they rallied from a six-point deficit by going on a 16-3 run in the fourth quarter. Lauren Robak led the way for Our Lady with 20 points, including 14-of-20 free-throw shooting, while Doetsch had 9 points.