SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Sometimes it doesn’t matter how you get there as long as the game ends in your favor. So Lakeside boys basketball coach Rob Pisano will happily take a 54-49 result over Premier Athletic Conference rival North.
“A win is a win,” Pisano said. “We knew it was going to be a dogfight. They are seniors and they play well together. Any time the two of us get together, it’s a battle. Any time we get a win, I’ll take it.
“Against a rival, if you walk out with a win, you’re happy. It’s rough to be on the losing end.”
Leading 40-39 after three quarters, the Dragons (13-3, 8-2) used a 5-0 spurt in the opening 2:42 of the final period to skate out to a 45-39 advantage with 5:18 to play.
Cody Blizzard made a free throw and Khalil Chatman connected on a pair of charity tosses and made a layup during the stretch.
Following a 3-pointer from A.J. Montanaro, the Rangers (9-8, 7-6) got to within two, 49-47, with 2:47 remaining. But Rashaad Bell and Chatman each hit the front end of one-and-ones and Emilio Parks made both ends of a double bonus to put Lakeside back up six, 53-47, with 25 seconds left.
“They hit their free throws,” North coach Joe Montanaro said.
Lakeside held North to just 31.9 percent shooting (15 of 47) in the contest and made seven steals in forcing 12 turnovers.
“Sometimes I’m harsh on the guys when it comes to defense,” Pisano said. “I still think we didn’t play well. But I look at it from the expectation of excellence. But to the fan sitting in the stands, that was great defense.
“We held them to 49 points. All five of them played great defense. I can’t single out just one of them.”
“We just didn’t hit our shots,” Montanaro said. “Those are usually shots we knock down. And we didn’t get any offensive rebounds.”
Parks connected for 22 points, had 13 rebounds and blocked four shots to pace the Dragons. Chatman scored 14 points and Cody Blizzard added 13.
Ryan Frank led the Rangers with 12 points, three assists and three steals. Montanaro scored nine points, all on 3-pointers, and John Sauto added eight points.
Sports
Lakeside conquers North
Dragons fight off Rangers for W
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Falcons impress
The Jefferson Falcons used an 8-2 early run and an 8-0 late run, both in the first quarter, backed by hot shooting, to open a big lead on the Conneaut Spartans that reached double digits early, paving the way to a solid 65-47 Falcon win Tuesday night at Falcon Gym.
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Eagles knocked off perch
The Geneva girls led at the end of every quarter but the final one Tuesday night. And that may turn out to be somewhat symbolic of their season in the Premier Athletic Conference.
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Lakers done in at Girard
When freshman Craig Randall began practice for Girard on Nov. 4, he walked in thinking he may start for the junior-varsity team.
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Pirates cruise as Eagles ‘lay egg’
Late in the second quarter, Geneva’s Dan Camplese hit a 3 to bring the Eagles within 4 points of the Perry Pirates, 21-17.
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Beavers scalp Warriors
Chandler Smith had the answer. The question — how do you overcome a poor shooting performance?
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Scholastic Schedule:
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8
Girls Basketball
n Geneva at Perry
n Kirtland at Madison
Wrestling
n Jefferson, Grand Valley at PV (6) -
Lakers clinch NAC outright
Pymatuning Valley coach Jeff Compan thought that his opponent was the aggressor on Monday night. But his side still came out on top. And with that, the Lakers clinched the Northeastern Athletic Conference title outright.
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Warriors edge Heralds
With both the Edgewood and SS. John and Paul girls basketball teams struggling to get something going early in Monday’s non-conference matchup, there were certainly plenty of openings for a single player to tip the scales in favor of her team.
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Eagles fly to top seed
Having already clinched a share of the Premier Athletic Conference championship — which they can wrap up outright with a win at North on Tuesday — the Geneva Eagles were accorded another honor Sunday.
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SECTIONAL SUCCESS:
- 1. Jefferson 17
- 2. Madison 11
- 3. Perry 8
- 4. Geneva 7
- 5. Conneaut 6
- 5. Pymatuning Valley 6
- 7. Riverside 4
- 8. Grand Valley 1
- 9. Edgewood 0
- 9. Lakeside 0
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