Lancers Win Close Battle
On February 14, Lancer fans at Loyalist College were on the edge of their seats for the entire four quarters of the men’s basketball game versus The Fleming Knights.
With leading scorer Tyronn King out for the game, the Lancers needed to bring their all if they wanted to make it into a playoff position.
In their last match-up with the Knights in November, the Lancers took the game, winning by nine points. But they seemed to struggle to get ahead on Tuesday.
The first half of the game was neck and neck, only a one or two possession game most of the time, with the teams fighting for the lead. With the Knights ahead by three points with the half ticking to an end, the Lancers were looking for something to get them going and to enter the second half on a high note.
With under a minute remaining, the Lancers made a steal and found 6 foot 7 inch forward Tigh Chapman on a breakaway. Chapman dunked the ball over the rim and the crowd erupted with applause and jumped to their feet, creating a roar throughout the gymnasium. With Chapman’s basket, the Lancers entered the second half down by only one, trailing the Knights 43-42. Chapman ended up scoring 18 points for his team.
Entering the second half, the Lancers needed to pick up their energy if they wanted to come out with a win.
“Our energy on defense needed to change,” assistant coach Caleb Hugh said.
The third and fourth quarters were as close as the first two. The lead went back and fourth between the teams as both the Lancers and the Knights were shooting well. Guard Jeremiah Dulla was shooting threes like he couldn’t miss, keeping the Lancers in the game as their offence picked up. Dulla was the leading scorer of the game with 30 points.
The energy through the crowd and on the bench was getting higher and higher as the final minutes of the game approached. With two minutes left, the Lancers were up by only two points, 74-72.
The Lancers had possession of the ball and they came down the court with determination. Forward Carter Maschi was given the ball and as he drove the basket, he was fouled but still made the layup. The crowd went wild as the Lancers made their lead a two possession game with less than a minute and a half left.
The Knights couldn’t seem to score with their possession and with 30 seconds left, the Lancers went up by another two points.
Maschi was then fouled by Jaquan Levene of the Knights. He made both free throws giving the Lancers the win by eight. The final score was 80-72.
The win Tuesday night means a lot for the Lancers as they hope to make it into the playoffs.
“We lost a couple of our games that were keeping us in the playoff hunt so we really needed this one to keep our hopes alive to get to the OCAA playoffs,” assistant coach Hugh said.
The Lancers now need to win their final two games to make it to the playoffs.
“We’re in the mix but there’s a lot of teams playing for the last spot,” Hugh said.
To get to the playoffs, Hugh said they need to continue performing well on defense and to work together as a team.
“We don’t really live or die with just one player. It’s a group effort so we need every player on the team to bring it each night,” he said.
The Lancers play the George Brown Huskies this Friday at home before heading to Centennial College on Feb. 22 for their last game of the regular season.
"We don't really live or die with just one player. It's a group effort."
- Assistant coach Caleb Hugh
BELLEVILLE, Ont. (02/14/17) - Carter Maschi of the Loyalist Lancers men’s basketball team drives the lane to the basket past Fleming Knights defenders. The Lancers ended up defeating the Knights 80-72. Photo by Lori Christmas