By Coach Brian Walker

The Laker C-Squad made its final road trip of the season traveling to Eden Valley Watkins in a non-conference game last Monday night.  Both teams battled throughout, but in the end it would be EVW getting the best of the Lakers in a 40-28 win.  

The Lakers would keep it close in the first half, and would have opportunities to have a lead at the break, but the Lakers converted on only 1-of-9 from the free-throw line.  

When you have empty possessions it really hurts the team. We executed some nice sets on offense, but struggled to convert some close range shots.  

In the first half, the Lakers hit just 7-of-19 (26 percent) from the floor.  Conner Erickson scored eight of the team’s 12 first-half points as the Lakers trailed 18-12 at the break.  

If we hit a few more shots and made a couple more free-throws we would have held the lead at the half, but it wasn’t to be.  The team battled hard in the second half and cut the lead to 24-20, but from that point on, EVW outscored the Lakers 16-8 to get the win.  

Conner Erickson scored nine more in the second half to lead the team with 17 points, while Tristan O’Neil added four points, Ben Johnson, Caleb Kath, and Ike Spychalla each scored two points and Riley Week added one.  

I was really pleased with the effort the team put forth.  They never quit and continued to battle until the end. 

The Lakers end their season with four home games with the first to be played Friday against West Central for Parent’s Night.  The game against Breckenridges, set for last Tuesday, was postponed until Thursday, Feb. 23. 

The C-squad is 7-13 overall this season.  The team continues to work hard in practice and has competed hard every game out.  We look for continued growth and development of this young group as another winter season is coming to a close.  

GO LAKERS!