WEST CHESTER TWP. — LJ Green erupted for a career-high 23 points, and Lakota West led from start to finish in a 71-59 victory over Hamilton on Friday night.
“Our goal was to keep them under 40, but we couldn’t do that,” said Green, a senior center. “We wanted to start it on defense. We talked about it a lot about it being a game we could redeem ourselves — in more ways than one.”
The Firebirds (3-1, 2-1 GMC) scored the game’s first nine points to set up their redemption win against the Big Blue, who took Lakota West out of contention for last year’s Greater Miami Conference title. The Firebirds bounced back from Tuesday’s 46-45 loss at Fairfield.
“They kind of put a rain on our parade for that share of the GMC title, so that left a bad taste in our mouth,” Firebirds coach Kelven Moss said. “Our guys really anticipated this game. So there was a lot going into it. I’m proud of them for bouncing back.”
Green went 9 for 9 from the free throw line and is a perfect 13 for 13 at the stripe this season.
Joshua Tyson scored 14 points and slammed home a breakaway dunk in the first half to get the Lakota West crowd going. Bruce Curry added 12 points, and Nate Dudukovich chipped in with 11.
“We’ve just got so many offensive weapons,” Moss said. “Our guys can make things happen. They do a good job of sharing, so we don’t have to worry about people being selfish.”
The first quarter proved to be the difference-maker. Hamilton outscored Lakota West 37-35 in the second half.
Peyton Davis had a team-high 13 points for Hamilton (1-4, 1-2 GMC), while Jordon Johnson-Perdomo added 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
“We’ve got to worry about being tougher and playing more as a unit, and at times right now, we’re just not doing that enough,” Big Blue first-year coach Jake Turner said. “That’s frustrating. But I think we’ve shown in some games some flashes. We’re close.
“Right now, we’re not converting on our opportunities, and I think some of that’s just us trying to figure some things out.”
Takeaways
Anyone in Lakota West’s lineup could have a breakout game. Four of its starters hit double figures in scoring.
“That’s kind of how we want to play,” Moss said.
Hamilton, on the other hand, is still aiming to adjust to a new system under Turner.
“It’s about establishing a culture and how things are going to be done,” said Turner, an HHS grad who was hired during the offseason after Kevin Higgins went to La Salle.
“We haven’t had the same starting lineup, and that’s not really by design. That’s by some of the choices and guys making some decisions — not doing what they’re supposed to do. We’ve gotta go next man up, and that’s how it’s gonna be until we figure it out.”
Up next
Lakota West travels to Sycamore on Tuesday, while Hamilton hosts Fairfield that same night.
Other area boys basketball results:
BADIN 51, MCNICHOLAS 41
Badin outscored visiting McNicholas 9-1 in the last 2:39 and knocked off the Rockets, 51-41, in GCL Coed Division boys basketball action at the Rams’ Mulcahey Gym Friday night.
Badin got 19 points from junior guard Eli Stroud and 17 from senior guard Cooper Ollis in improving its record to 4-1 overall, 3-0 in the league. McNicholas got 15 points from junior Grant Waters and put 10 players in the scoring line, but is still looking for its first win, now 0-3 overall and in the league.
McNicholas had cut a 7-point deficit to two, 42-40, off of a triple by Waters with less than three minutes remaining.
In a key flurry for the Rams, Chandler Taylor scored inside and was fouled at 2:39. He missed the free throw, but got to the basket and was fouled again following an Eli Wolpert rebound. Taylor hit one free throw, and the second was a miss rebounded by the Rams’ Carson Lowe. Ollis added another free throw soon after to make it 46-40 with 1:29 showing, and the hosts took it home from there.
Badin won the game on aggression at the basket, converting 15-of-25 free throws while McNicholas was 8-of-14.The Rams last seven points came from the foul line.
Badin is off until hosting Northwest on Friday, Dec. 20.McNicholas is right back at it on Saturday, Dec. 14, hosting Walnut Hills.
LAKOTA EAST 67, MIDDLETOWN 44
FAIRFIELD 67, MASON 46
NORTHWEST 64, TALAWANDA 46
CHAMINADE JULIENNE 66, FENWICK 41
FRANKLIN 58, EDGEWOOD 50
OAKWOOD 76, MADISON 54
MONROE 70, ROSS 58
MVCA 74, CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN 50
