Boys Basketball: Lake City battles back

LAKE CITY – Legacy Christian Academy hardly missed in the first half against Lake City Friday in the championship game of the Lake City Invite.

The Lions shot nearly 57 percent as they established a 32-29 lead at halftime but the Tigers’ pressure defense and foul trouble for leading scorer Colton Richards slowed Legacy in the second half.

Lake City took advantage, forcing 23 turnovers, and scored a 68-56 victory.

“The second half we dialed up our defense and we got after them,” Lake City head coach Shawn Sweeney said. “Uncharacteristically, we could have salted it away with free throws.”

The Tigers (9-1, 2-0 HVL Blue) held a 16-point lead with 3 minutes, 59 seconds left but missed seven free throws in those final four minutes and made just 13 of 23 free-throw attempts for the game.

Ben Schramski led the Tigers with 26 points on 10 of 20 shooting, including five 3-pointers. He had 18 points in the second half.

“I just got a lot of open looks,” Schramski said. “(Our guards) were doing a really good job of dishing out to me. In the first half I was struggling because I was forcing it. They were not shots I should have been taking.”

The first half featured 10 ties and six lead changes as Jake Griebenow had 13 of his 19 points to lead Lake City in the opening half and Luke Anderson also tallied 13 points for Legacy (5-4). Schramski struggled in the first half and Griebenow picked up Lake City’s offense by driving into the Lions’ defense and getting to the free-throw line.

“I’ve not been consistent with my outside game,” Griebenow said. “I wanted to make sure I’d contribute so that’s why I got to the rim.”

Out of the break, Schramski caught fire. He made his first five shots of the half and helped put the Tigers up 39-32 with 14:32 left on a 10-2 run by himself. Richards also came out firing, scoring Legacy’s first eight points before tallying his fourth foul at the 10:11 mark. He finished with a team-high 17 points but when he left the game, Lake City took over.

Anderson, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds, knocked down a 3-pointer to pull the Lions within 48-45 with 9:52 remaining and that was the closest Legacy got the rest of the way. The Tigers immediately went on a 15-2 run to extend the lead to 63-47 on a layup by Reid Lundell.

The Lions didn’t go away, thanks to Lake City’s free throw trouble, but the Tigers were able to hold on for the win.

“As the season goes on, games get closer,” Griebenow said. “These types of games will help you out in the future. You’re experienced and ready for that situation.”

Lake City committed just seven turnovers in the victory and had 12 steals, scoring 26 points off turnovers.

“I think our kids have shown good focus,” Sweeney said. “We’ve worked hard to get here. I’m happy with our effort.”

The Tigers hit the road on Jan. 4 to face Triton in Dodge Center.

Tags: boys basketball, lake city, sports, prep