NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA LAKERS
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The Orillia Lakers U14 boys basketball team had a great first weekend of Hoop City Basketball League play.
After a 49-28 win over Bordertown from Fort Erie, the team was excited for their first exposure to one of the elite teams in their age group, Durham Gators (Scarborough region). The Lakers showed they were up for the challenge and led the game into the third quarter. The Lakers weren’t used to the relentless intensity against a team made up mostly of players that had twice been the best team in their age group in all of Ontario. Though the Lakers had great moments in the second half, they couldn’t maintain the level they needed and allowed the Gators to pull away, 63-49.
The Lakers then managed a 48-43 win over Scarbourough’s Project Excellence before facing another top-10 quality test versus the Durham Gators (Durham Region). Facing the biggest and most athletic team they had ever faced, the team battled every minute. The game was tied with 1:10 left in the game. At that point the Gators seemingly took control with a made three-pointer followed by a steal and dunk to go up by five. The Lakers team had never been dunked on before but responded incredibly by quickly inbounding for a fast break opportunity and two made free throws by Caden McFee with 41 seconds left.
Up by three, Durham tried to run out the clock and the Lakers chose to go for the steal rather than fouling right away. The decision paid off when McFee knocked the ball loose, Kelechi Nwokeke picked it up and dished ahead for a McFee layup with 15 seconds left. Nathan Litherland stole the ensuing inbound pass and the Lakers finally managed to create a clean look with two seconds left. The shot bounced out, but Nwokeke managed to jump up in traffic and tap in the rebound just before time expired for the 72-71 win.
The Lakers, sponsored by JL Construction, the Buck Group, IRP Industrial Rubber, Oscar’s Variety, 125 Breakfast Club and Master Lube, are now 3-1 in Hoop City Basketball League play and 6-1 overall on the season.
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