Boys Basketball: Lakes' Size Breaks Down Foss in District Playoff Victory

Lakes would not suffer consecutive losses against two Narrows League schools.

Recovering from a loss to Lincoln in the Class 3A West Central and Southwest Bi-district semifinal playoff game this past Saturday, the Lancers (19-3 overall, 10-0 SPSL 3A) will enter the state tournament on a positive note and with the No. 3 seed after beating Foss 62-47 at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma on Monday night.

With mismatches in the paint and on the perimeter, the Lancers — the No. 5 ranked team in the state — blazed to a double-digit lead in the first quarter by using its size and athleticism for second-chance points and shots close to the basket.

Lakes head coach Jojo Rodriguez said he has never lost two games in a row since he stepped in more than four years ago.

"Our kids usually bounce back from a loss," Rodriquez said. "We wanted to come out here feeling good about ourselves and get back on track and get ready to play some tough basketball."

Lakes guards Nate Guy and Isaac Winston combined to score 33 points as Winston led with a team-high 17.

"We dominated everywhere," Guy said. "Our height is everywhere. We just pushed it to the post, kept driving to the hoop and tried to get offensive and defensive rebounds."

Guy caught an alley-oop from Winston for a two-handed dunk with 5 minutes, 17 seconds remaining in the first half and led 33-20 at halftime. Winston said they made it difficult for the Falcons to get open shots near the hoop.

"The coaches kept telling us to go inside," Winston said. "That’s where they were weak at. We just kept pounding it inside"

Foss was able to cut the lead to single digits, 32-25, after going on a 5-0 run to open the second half. Falcons sophomore Dezmyn Trent scored a game-high 22 points but no other Falcon scored in double digits.

Lakes failed to score a field goal in the first three minutes of the third quarter, but Winston sparked the team with a jump shot before the third-quarter buzzer and the Lancers controlled the game with a 54-35 lead to enter the final quarter.

Rodriguez said if they want to win in at the state level, they must do a better job of executing their half-court offense.

"If you can’t run it in the half court you’re not going to be successful," he said. "The teams that are good in the half court are the ones who will advance."

Lakes will compete in the 3A state tournament on March 3 at the Tacoma Dome.

Box Score

Foss       10    10    15   12  — 47

Lakes    18    14     22    8  — 62

Foss: Hunthausen 2, Hankins 9, Trent 22, Chambers 2, Richmond 3, Jones 2, Byrd 3, Lee 2, Tartleton 2.

Lakes: Holloway 7, Guy 16, Winston 17, Banner 12, Flamer 5, Dozier 4.