LAKE ODESSA – The Lakewood Vikings played host to Leslie in a GLAC match up, Tuesday, Jan. 9. The Vikings ended up on the wrong end of a 68-52 score. The loss moves the Vikings' record to 2-4 on the year.
Both teams had a slow start, with the score knotted 9-9 at the end of the first quarter, with four players adding to the scoreboard. Lakewood outscored Leslie in the second quarter knocking in 15 points, compared to Leslie's 11. Lakewood sophomore Bryant Makley led the scoring, tallying 11 of those points. Lakewood headed into the locker room at halftime with a 24-20 lead.
The third quarter saw both teams exchanging baskets, and Lakewood never giving up the lead, ending the quarter 40-35. Leslie had a fast and furious fourth quarter, claiming the lead at the 7:02 mark at 42-41 and never looking back. Lakewood players just couldn't seem to find an answer to Leslie's offensive onslaught and could only put up 12 points in the final stanza, compared to Leslie's explosion of 33 points. The game ended at 68-52.
“Right now we have defensively and in our press, we are always one guy away from running it correctly,” said Lakewood coach Chris Duits. “We always seem to have one guy out of the rotation, or one guy who doesn't know where he's supposed to be on the court. It kills us every game. We've got the talent, we need to have the drive.”
Leading Lakewood's offense was Bryant Makley with 24 points. Nathan Dilton tallied eight, Josh Campeau had seven, Jacob Elenbaas had six, Colten Mitchell-Webber had three, and Nathan Devries and Alec Vasquez chipped in two apiece.
Next up for Lakewood is an away game against Maple Valley, Friday, Jan. 12. The game is scheduled to begin at approximately 7 p.m.