BY JIMMY BEASLEY, SR.
Staff Reporter
SWITZ CITY — Friday night at the IHSAA boys basketball Class 1A Sectional 5, the season came to a close for Shakamak and North Central.
In the opener, the Lakers fell to No. 5 ranked Clay City, 57-45 before defending two-time sectional champions Bloomfield knocked off the Thunderbirds in the nightcap, 42-27.
The first quarter of game one saw the Lakers come out and take the early lead. Linden Jenkins got the Lakers up hitting the game’s opening shot. Clay City answered back with a basket from Etan Edwards to tie the game and the race was on. The Lakers went up 7-5 off a basket from Will Miller but it would be the last points of the opening quarter for the Lakers. Clay City went on to outscore the Lakers 11-0 to take the first break lead at 16-7. Dailon Keller hit for 7 of those 11 points for the Eels.
The second quarter was the best of the night for the Lakers. Case Terrell hit a long three to get his team back in the game, trailing 16-10. Jenkins followed with back-to-back baskets, one off a sweet pass from Miller, trimming the deficit to three at 17-14. Clay City scored the final bucket of the half for a 19-14 lead.
“We had a good game plan coming in and I thought the kids did a great job sticking to it,” Lakers’ coach Brodie Crowe said. “ We started out a bit slow but came back there in the second and I thought we played well, overall.”
The third quarter was much like the first half as the Eels would move ahead but the Lakers kept coming back. Miller would pull the Lakers to within 27-22 on a pair of free throws midway through the third. But the Eels stayed in control leading 33-25 heading into the fourth.
A bucket by JT May cut the Eels’ lead to 49-44, but the Lakers would come no closer.
“The score sure isn’t indicative of the game we played that’s for sure,” Crowe said. “It’s a tough loss for a great group of seniors. Mason Barton, Miller and May are a credit to the program we’re trying to build here. We want to reload every year, not rebuild. These boys have left our foundation in great shape.”
For the game Jenkins led the Lakers with 17 points, Jaden Johnson and Miller had 9 each, May had 7 and Terrell finished with 3 points.
May, who is one of the most heavily recruited players in the area, finishes his illustrious career third on the Lakers’ all-time scoring list and also leaves as the program’s leader in career 3-pointers made.
Michael Tucker led the Eels with 12.
The loss ended the Lakers’ season-best 5-game winning streak as they finished with a final record of 13-10.
In Game two, North Central fell behind 15-9 after the first period and never could get back on track.
The Thunderbirds did not have any answer for Bloomfield super sophomore Blake Neill. The Cards’ talented guard outscored North Central by himself, pouring in a game-high 28 points.
Bloomfield led 23-15 at the break and 37-22 heading into the fourth.
The Thunderbirds got 10 points from Trashaun Cockrell, five from Tyson Hardin, four from Ethan Lewis, three from DJ Suggs and two points from Jaden Hopper.
“We were ready to go coming in,” Thunderbirds’ first-year coach John Ladson said. “We played hard, we just couldn’t get the ball in the hole. I’m proud of my kids and our effort. Gavin Simmons and Jaden Hopper were good senior leaders and will be missed. Simmons wasn’t going to play but did and was a great addition. We’re going to miss both.”
North Central wraps up the season with a 11-13 record.
Bloomfield (13-13) will play Clay City (20-5) in the sectional championship game Saturday night. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
