HAMILTON – The Lakeland Christian Academy varsity boys basketball team’s first venture in an IHSAA sectional was short lived. In their first-ever IHSAA sectional game, the LCA Cougars (7-16) fell 49-36 Wednesday night to the Bethany Christian Bruins (4-17) in the opening round of Class 1A Sectional 52 at Hamilton High School. Bethany advances to Friday’s semifinals, where it will play Fort Wayne Canterbury (13-8) following the 6 p.m. game between Lakewood Park (16-5) and Elkhart Christian (14-7). Against Bethany, LCA had its chances, beginning with a fast start that saw the Cougars jump out to an 8-0 lead in the first two-and-a-half minutes. “We had good full-court pressure,” LCA coach Lee Compson said about the quick start. “We turned our defense into offense, as far as turning their turnovers into layups and good, quality shots. We did a good job, most of the first half, of doing that.” Entering the sectional at 3-17, the Bruins could have easily folded early, but that didn’t happen. “It was not the way we wanted to start, for sure,” Bethany coach Jim Buller said. “(LCA) came out very aggressive. They came out and hit shots and we did not make plays. With a 3-17 regular season, we’re just not brimming with confidence, yet the thing that’s been consistent with this group is, they play hard.” With their feet under them, the Bruins began to hit shots and built a 21-16 lead midway through the second quarter, but LCA senior Zarek Finley kept his team in it. Making 7 of 8 field goal attempts, Finley netted 14 first-half points, while also getting five rebounds and two steals, helping LCA hold a 26-25 halftime advantage. However, in the second half, Finley got just three field goal attempts, making two, finishing the game with 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting. “We tried to get him some looks,” Compson said. “He was open a few times, but our perimeter guys just looked him off and went other places. That was frustrating. That was just a lapse in judgment or a lack of focus on our part.” With Finley quieted down, LCA netted just 10 second-half points, and committed 15 turnovers. “Our defensive pressure began to break them down,” Buller said. “When our sophomore guards (Sol Brenneman and Nate Nussbaum) turned up the energy in the full court, that was when we kind of turned play into our favor.” Despite the turnovers and lack of point production, LCA still only trailed 40-36 following a bucket by Finley with 3:25 remaining. But that bucket would be LCA’s last, as Bethany went 7 of 7 at the free throw line in the final minute-and-a-half after making just 1 of 10 before that. “We’re actually good free throw shooters,” Buller said of his team’s 8-of-17 performance at the line. “In the first half, you didn’t see it. We were tight. We were wanting it to happen. We just rushed it a little bit, but when we could relax and let it happen, we converted.” Bethany senior Caleb Morris made four of the those free throws in the closing minute, finishing the game with 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. For LCA, Finley was helped out by 6-foot-7 senior Calvin Prinsen, who posted six blocks and 11 rebounds, but was limited to four points and five field goal attempts. “He did a good job defensively, and we didn't do a good job of getting him more shots either,” Compson said. The loss wasn’t only the end of Finley and Prinsen’s prep careers, but also meant the end of the road for Chris Maron, Collin Price, Billy Pitts and Noah Cole, all of whom saw action in the game. “I told them I was proud of the way they improved, grew and competed,” Compson said about his postgame speech to the senior-laden club. “The quality of basketball we played, while far from perfect, was at a very good level, especially in comparison with other teams in the past at Lakeland. We’ve had good teams in the past, but I just know our team-oriented play this year set the tone for future teams as we move forward in the IHSAA.”
