A big week for the Lake Orion Baptist School Lions culminated with a trip to the Michigan Association of Christian Schools? state finals at Oxford High School last Saturday.
Tournament play for the team began last Tuesday, as the Lions hosted the Bridgeport Baptist Academy of Saginaw’in the MACS quarterfinals. It was their first meeting this season.
The game was tight throughout, as the teams traded baskets deep into the fourth quarter before the Lions prevailed 43-40 to earn a trip to the Friday semifinals.?
The Lions out rebounded Bridgeport 34-29 and collected nine steals.’The Lions overcame a 1-for-9 free throw shooting effort with the help of 16 Bridgeport turnovers.
Senior captain Matt Dobis led the Lions with 16 points and 17 rebounds.’Junior guard James Moreno added 11 points.
On Friday, the Lions traveled to Clarkston and the Springfied Christian Academy gym to host the Community Baptist School of Saginaw.
There, the Lions jumped out to 17-7 lead in the first quarter and a seven point edge at halftime.’Community fought back in the third quarter, however, to overtake the Lions 34-33.?
The Lions clamped down in the fourth quarter and outscored Community 17-10, hitting 10 of 13 free throws to help pull away 50-44. The Lions dominated the boards with 34 rebounds’to Community’s 27, while creating 32 steals with an effective press.
Ben Cuyler led the Lions with 14 points, connecting on three?3-pointers. He added six rebounds and six steals.’Moreno had 13 points and Zach Halleck scored 12, while playing tough defense on Community’s top scorer.
Dobis had a double-double with 11 rebounds and 11 steals (seven blocks).
The victory brought the Lions to the MACS championship on Saturday at Oxford for a third match-up on the season with Juniata Christian School of Vassar.
The’Eagles of Juniata Christian were seeded #1 in the MACS.
Both teams played great defense in the first quarter, ending it in a 9-all tie.’That trend carried through the second quarter, with the Eagles clinging to a 19-18 halftime edge.
Early in the second half, the Eagles created three turnovers in succession and build the lead to seven points. From that point to roughly the two-minute mark, the teams traded scores with the Lions unable to eat into the seven point deficit.?
In those final moments, with the Lions trying to regain possession, the Eagles made six free throws to stretch the lead to 12 points and a final score of 51-39.
The Lions four starting seniors, co-captains Cuyler and Dobis, along with forwards Eric Dewar and Halleck, were replaced just prior to the final buzzer and received a standing ovation for the great season they gave to the Lions? fans.
Dobis had another triple-double for his third this season against the best team in the MACS Division 1.’He finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 10 steals (six blocks).
Cuyler had 9 points, Dewar followed with 8, and Halleck scored 7, while again displaying tough lock-down defense.
The Lions ended their season with 18 wins and 8 losses. They outscored their opponents on the season 1,329 to 1,232.
The Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference (FBAC) coaches will be voting this week for an All-Conference team.