With only one game left in the regular season, the Lake Orion Baptist Lions varsity cagers are tied for first in the Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference with Troy’s Bethany Christian. Both teams have one FBAC loss — each to the other.
Lake Orion’s last regular season game is next week against Springfield Christian. The Lions are seeded number four in the Michigan Association of Christian Schools Tournament. They host their first game next Tuesday (March 2) at their gym located on Scripps Road. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
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Last week the Lions pushed their regular season record to 14-3, with wins over Rochester Hills Christian and Waterford’s Lake Crest Bapist.
In the first game, Lake Orion grounded the Rochester Hills Eagles, in the Eagles? own aerie, 68-60. The Lions led at the end of each period; 22-7 in the first, 38-16 going into half time, 56-37 heading into the fourth.
Lake Orion’s Treavor Halleck led all scorers with 26 points, seven rebounds, nine steals and seven assists. Six-foot-four center Brad Watterworth had 12 points, nine rebounds, and seven blocks, despite sitting out most of the second and third periods with foul problems. James Noruk had nine points, six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Chris Hojnacki had eight points, eight rebounds and three steals. Matt Cameron had seven points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists. Conner Welby had four points, one rebound and two assists. Elijah Cone had two points, and two steals.
Leading scorer for the Eagles was D.J. Sydlowski with 22 points. The Eagles are 5 and 11 for the season.
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On Friday, the Lions hosted the Lake Crest Baptist School Defenders. The Lions controlled the boards for the game with 37 to 24 rebounds and responded with 24 steals to the Defenders 14. The Lions did not fair as well on turnovers, committing 22 to the Defenders 15.
‘Thirteen of our turnovers were poor passes. This was an extremely clean game with only 10 fouls being called for the entire game,? Lions coach Joe Bullen said.
The first quarter ended with the Lions leading, 12 – 11. The Lions went into the second half leading, 24 – 17. Going into the 4th the Lions led, 37 to 31 with the final score, 56-43.
Halleck led the Lions with 16 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Hojnacki had 12 points, nine rebounds, six steals and one blocked shot. Watterworth had a double-double with 12 points, 13 blocks, seven rebounds and three assists. Noruk scored four points, seven rebounds, one blocked shot and nine assists. Welby scored four points, hauled down seven rebounds and added an assist.
The leading scorer for the Defenders was Doug Franklin with 23 points. The Defenders are 11 and 9 for the season.