BY JIMMY BEASLEY, Sr.
Staff Reporter
JASONVILLE — On a night that started with the visiting Riverton Parke Panthers winning the junior varisty boys basketball game against Shakamak 62-60 on a three pointer from the top of the key in overtime, the host Lakers got a driving layup from sophomore Jaden Johnson with time running out to seal the exciting 58-56 win over the young Panthers.
Riverton came out on fire and jumped out to a 14-4 first quarter lead with just over three minutes left in the frame. That’s when senior standout JT May scored 12 of his team’s 18 first quarter points to send the game into the second quarter with the Lakers up 18-16.
The second quarter saw the lead change hands 12 times. The final change came with the first half ending. Johnson hit a three to send the game into half with the Lakers up 31-30.
“We got beat really badly Friday night against North Vermillion so coming out strong against this good Shakamak team was really important”, said first year Panther head coach Lucas Stewart of his team’s early start. “We never let up the entire game and one bad defensive play there at the end cost us.”.
The second half was as good as the first for the fans in the stands. The third quarter saw the guests get a three from their standout sophomore guard Collett Sanders, to put his team up 33-31.
“He’s the quarterback of our football team as well and he’s a great leader and just a sophomore,” said coach Steward of his guard.
The quarter ended with the Lakers getting a steal and a bucket by May to go into the final quarter with the Lakers back in front, 46-44.
“He’s just a great leader,” Lakers’ coach Brodie Crowe said of May.
The final quarter started with May hitting 2-2 free throws improving the lead to 48-44. But neither team could muster more than a 3-point lead before the other bounced back.
“We never gave up, even when we were down early 10 there in the opening quarter, neither team did and that’s a credit to both squads,” Crowe said after the win.
The Panthers looked like they took the lead for the final time when senior Pierson Robin’s hit a three with 11.7 seconds to play.
But Jaden Johnson didn’t agree.
He took the ball up the left side of the floor against pressure, drove to the right hash, then he cut to the basket, driving by three Panther defenders and hit the game winner as time expired. Sealing the 10th win of the year.
“It’s not pretty but this time of the year, on senior night and all, we’ll take the win,” said coach Crowe. “We shot well from the free-throw line, hitting 15/20, for the night but we want to be better there. We have 4 games left with four good teams and we’d like to win out then head into the tournament on a good note.”
Riverton Parke fell to 3-21 with the disappointing loss.
For the game Sanders led RP with 21 points and Robi’s had 13.
The Lakers were led by May with the game high of 25 and Johnson 16. Senior Will Miller had 11 in the win.
The Lakers are now 10-9 on the year.
