The Lakeview boys basketball squad started off their annual Mac Braxton Classic with a matchup against the Northwood-Lena Gators. Lakeview was 2-0 coming into the Monday night matchup over Thanksgiving break, and looked to keep the ball rolling. It was a close game in the beginning, with the first points coming from Lakeview freshman Lonzo Driver, who put it back up on an offensive rebound.
Lena came back with some free throws and a very contested three. Javonte Howard scored next for Lakeview; he knocked down a shot as the whistle blew but Howard couldn’t capitalize at the line. The next highlight was a corner three from freshman Andre Sowell, who has been a big time highlight reel for Lakeview so far. The Gators ended the first quarter with a 14-12 lead. Immediately out the gate of the second quarter, Howard and sophomore Dillon Pikes made back-to-back threes to push Lakeview’s lead.
But Lena countered with seven straight points to close the gap. Mike Shields got a fast break and one bucket, followed by a fast break layup from Pikes. It seemed for every point Lakeview scored, Lena answered. Halftime came and Lakeview still had a 28-23 lead. Lena came out crashing the boards in the second half, absolutely dominating with second chance points. Shields ended their momentum with a knockdown three.
But for Shields’ three, Lena answered with one of their own, as well as a fast break score. Cameron Holden sank a shot from outside and Sowell knocked down a mid range jumper before Lena got a second chance bucket. Shields ended the third quarter with a nice finesse bucket in the paint to give the Gators a 40-37 lead. As the fourth quarter rolled around, it was all Lakeview, literally. Lakeview outscored their opponents 12-0 in the fourth.
Shields had seven points and Driver knocked down another three as the Lakeview Gators walked away victorious 52-37. Mike Shields led the team in scoring with 15 points and pushed his team to 3-0.
