The Lions of Lake Orion Baptist School hosted Faith Christian School of Macomb last Tuesday for their second meeting of the season.?
The Lions played good defense in the first half, but’hit only 7-of-37 shots from the floor (19-percent) for an 18-17 halftime lead.?
The second half found plenty of offensive improvement, as the Lions scored 22 in the third and held the Patriots to seven points, as they went on for a 57-38 victory.
Senior Zach Halleck led the Lions with 15 points and eight rebounds, while holding R.J. Tanis, the Patriots? leading scorer, to just 13 points.?
Senior Eric Dewar had 13 points and senior Matt Dobis had six points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.?
On Friday evening, the Lions hosted the Bethany Christian Bruins of Troy in a game that was to define the Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference lead. Both teams have just one league loss, with the Lions? loss coming at the Bruins? home court earlier in the year in overtime.
At home the Lions were determined to get out strong despite the fact that Dewar, a starter, was not available due to a musical competition in Grand Rapids, and his normal backup, Chris Hojnacki, was out with a back problem.
Sophomore Matt Cameron was called on to fill the spot, playing the entire 32 minutes.’In addition, point guard James Moreno had been ill the previous day and did not start the game (though he came in later to replace sophomore Treavor Halleck, who started in’the point guard spot).?
The Lions started strong, grabbing a first quarter lead 17-8, and improved in that margin to 30-17 at the half.?
The Bruins came out with determination in the third, cutting the lead to 47-37, and they continued their comeback in the fourth quarter, tying the score at 53 with 2:30 remaining.?
That is when Lions clamped down on defense and hit eight straight shots from the foul line, with Moreno hitting all’six of his attempts in the quarter.’The Lions won by a final score 61-53.
Senior Ben Cuyler was the Lions? leading scorer with 18 points and nine rebounds. Dobis added a triple-double with 16 points, 15 rebounds and 10 steals (4 blocks).’Moreno finished with 16 points.
The Lions improved to 11-4 overall and 6-1 in the’FBAC.?