Lake Orion Baptist Lions rebounded with a win over rival Rochester Hills Christian Eagles after last week’s twin losses.
Having the Eagles in the Lions? Den was different than being in the Eagles? Nest.
The Lions split the season with the Eagles with a 53-50 victory.
The Lions were missing starter Stephen Watson with an ankle injury. Freshman Brad Watterworth started at center and made eight of the Lions? 12 points in the first quarter, which ended with a tie.
The half time ended with the Lions trailing, 22-24. In the third period, the Lions outscored the Eagles, 18-7, and led going into the fourth period, 40-31.
The Lions hung-on to their lead in the fourth by making 5 of 8 free throws, as the Eagles were putting them to the test . The Lions shot poorly earlier at the line. They spread their scoring around with 4 players hitting double figures and out-rebounded the Eagles 29-23.
The Lions were led by Chris Hojnacki with 13 points, 5 rebounds 4 steals and 1 block.
Watterworth had his second double-double game with 12 points and 12 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 assists. Treavor Halleck had 12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists. Point guard James Moreno had 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 5 assists.
Matt Cameron had 4 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 assist. Freshman James Noruk had 1 point, 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 assist.
The Eagles were led by Tony Parks with 19 points, followed by D.J. Sydlowski with 11 points.
The Eagles are 6-7 for the season.
The Lions traveled to North Branch on Friday for a non-conference game with the Heritage Christian Academy Eagles for their first game of the year.
Final score was Eagles, 65, Lions, 59. The Eagles have the combination of brothers Joshua and Jonah Byers, with Joshua using his 3-point range and Jonah driving to the paint.
The game was tied at the end of the first quarter, 12-12. The Eagles had the lead at the half, 29-27. The third quarter ended with the Eagles having gained a point, 44 to 41. The Eagles and Lions each went to the free throw line 21 times, with the Eagles hitting 13 of 21 for 62 percent to the Lions 9 of 21 for 43 percent.
The Lions out-rebounded the Eagles 35-28.
The Lions were led by Moreno with 19 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 4 assists. Halleck had 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 5 assists. Cameron had 8 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 assist. Hojnacki had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Noruk had 7 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists. Watterworth had 5 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 1 assist.
The Lions are 6-6 overall for the season and 4-4 in the Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference (FBAC).
The Heritage Eagles were led by the Byers brothers, with Jonah scoring 22 points–14 from the floor and 8 of 10 from the line. Joshua hit five 3-pointers for 15 of his 18 points. Keith Collins followed with 16 points.
The Eagles are 8-3 for their season.
The Lions host Juniata Christian of Vassar, the team the Lions played last year for the Michigan Association of Christian Schools (MACS) Championship, which Juniata won.