LS teams sweep junior high tourney
Both of Lakeside’s junior high basketball teams took first place in the Rams’ home tournament on Thursday with victories in their respective finals.
The junior Lady Rams improved to 8-1 this season with a 48-24 win over rival Hot Springs on Thursday in the final. The hosts were in control throughout the game with a 16-7 lead after the first quarter and a 19-13 advantage at halftime. The lead ballooned to 39-19 by the start of the fourth quarter.
Sarah Porter led Lakeside with 17 points, including nine off of three 3-pointers. Mady Davenport scored nine points, while Cat Morcan and Emylee Bittinger added five points apiece.
Lakeside will travel to Lake Hamilton on Monday. Boys
Lakeside’s junior high boys also clinched the championship in their tournament Thursday with a 50-38 win against Camden Fairview.
The junior Rams faced a 6-0 deficit early, but they took a 14-11 lead by the end of the quarter. Junior high boys’ coach Cody Lambert said Lakeside struggled with turnovers throughout the game.
“We never felt like we didn’t control the game, but at no point did we completely secure the game either because of unforced turnovers,” Lambert said.
Taevon Johnson scored seven points in the first quarter before Jamison Craig scored eight of Lakeside’s 13 points in the second quarter. The lead was 27-21 by halftime.
“The third quarter was a lazy start that allowed Fairview to get back into the game by allowing them to get offensive rebounds,” Lambert said.
Craig added eight points in the third quarter to help the junior Rams cling to a 39-36 lead to start the fourth. He finished with 21 points and Jordan Mills added 10 as Lakeside outscored Fairview, 11-2, in the final quarter.
“Jamison is one of the most athletic players I have ever coached,” Lambert said. “He is really turning into a great scorer also, not just around the rim, but he has a great mid-range game and can step out and
hit the 3.
“Defensively, we were real solid in the fourth quarter only allowing two points to finish it out. The thing about this team is that we have 8-10 that can score 10-plus points on any given night. It makes us hard to guard.”
Lakeside advanced to Thursday’s final with a 50-26 win against J.A. Fair on Wednesday. The junior Rams only led, 10-9, after the opening quarter, but they pulled ahead for a 22-10 by the end of the first half.
“We almost seemed nervous, which is uncharacteristic,” Lambert said. “We had unforced turnovers on almost half of our possessions in the first quarter.
“In the second quarter, we regained control of the game behind the play Brock Garner. He really got us going by his intensity. Once we got the lead in the second quarter, we relaxed and played Lakeside basketball. I am really proud of the way this group plays.”
Lakeside led, 39-18 after the third quarter. Fair was only outscored, 11-8, in the final six minutes.
Craig was the leading scorer with 10 points. Mills and Garner added nine and eight points, respectively.
Lakeside will take its undefeated record on the road Monday against another unbeaten, Lake Hamilton.
“I believe the game Monday will be a game that will be viewed as one of the best games in the state for the next several years,” Lambert said.
“I know our players, and I’m sure Lake Hamilton’s players as well, have had this game circled on their calendar all year.”