Cobras start early, roll over Scrappers
FOUNTAIN LAKE — Colby Lambert put up 17 points to lead Fountain Lake to a 53-44 win over Nashville Friday at Sammy Lambert Court at Irvin J. Bass Gymnasium.
“The kids played hard,” said Fountain Lake head coach Jake Dettmering. “They executed stuff very well tonight. Defense was solid, and we gave up some drives late that I didn’t like. All in all, I thought defense was good and handled some quick defenders.”
The Cobras (9-1) jumped out to an early 6-1 lead to get the game going before Jhalon Finley nailed a 3-pointer to pull within 2. The spread remained even until Landin Kizer landed a trey from the tip of the arc, kickstarting a 7-0 run for a 15-6 lead.
Kizer was fouled at the start of the second period, missing the and-one before De’Vay Ragland dished to Kyris Ware for a bucket, breaking the Scrappers dry spell. Both sides of the floor struggled to find the rim for the next few minutes before the visitors began to step on the gas. A block from Ware led to Ragland punching it in, and Eric Grigsby planted a shot in the paint to pull within 17-12.
Fountain Lake’s Evan East found Michael Moore open inside for 2 to widen the spread but Dontrelle Robinson sank a trey from the left baseline to trim the gap as Ware hit a pair of free throws from the charity line with 1:31 on the clock. Kizer answered with a set of his own for the 21-17 edge at the half.
Will Drakes came back from intermission with a trey to signal second half scoring as Lambert cut up the court for a layup.
“We got some easy baskets and some shots and just did a good job of spot playing their personnel and spotting shooters,” Dettmering said. “Trying not to let their better players hurt us, so the kids did well. We had some kids really step up and play a lot of minutes, not much rotation.”
The Cobras slowly extended their lead with Kizer and Lambert leading at the basket for 35-23. Nashville stepped it up to bring the Scrappers closer within 8, but it wasn’t enough as Fountain Lake didn’t let slow down its offense with a putback from’s Nashville’s Keyshawn Stewart sealing the final.
“The kids are playing together and sharing the ball,” Dettmering said. “Attitudes are great, so we’ve got to continue to work and grind in practice and be our best. We’re just gonna keep improving what we’re doing. Improving defense and rebounding and then continue to play well on offense, try to sharpen everything.”
Lambert added three rebounds, Kizer finished with 16 points, four rebounds and two steals, and Drakes came away
with 9 points, seven boards, three assists and a steal, Moore had 6 points and three assists and East had 5 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Ragland paced Nashville with 14 points, three rebounds, three steals and an assist. Finley tallied 9 points, a rebound and an assist, Ware had 6 points, four boards, two assists and a block and Dalton Brown had 6 points, five boards and a steal.
Fountain Lake hosts Caddo Hills Tuesday with the junior varsity boys starting at 5 p.m.