A highly-regarded Leola-Frederick ballclub jumped out to a 27-5 first quarter lead on the way to a 70-28 win over Langford Area in the boys basketball opener for both squads on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions were back in action last night Tuesday at Estelline in a busy pre-Christmas week. Thursday the Lions travel to Ipswich (JV 6:30 p.m., varsity to follow) and on Saturday play a doubleheader with the girls against Hitchcock-Tulare in Tulare (JV girls 1 p.m., JB boys, varsity girls, varsity boys to follow).
“We had a really tough opener playing an experienced Leola-Frederick team,” said LA boss Brian Schuring. “They are very strong and really good with their full court pressure. They forced us to be out of control which then made us have too many turnovers. We have to learn from our mistakes in a hurry because we have three games this week.”
The Titans caused a lot of problems for the Lions all over the floor from the outset, converting turnovers into baskets and connecting on three treys in the opening period to grab its 22-point lead.
LA temporarily stopped the bleeding with a pair of hoops by Ethen Olson and baskets from Conner Glines and Dylan Harmon to make it 33-13 with five minutes left in the half. But the visitors countered with a 9-3 run to lead 42-16 at intermission and added the first 10 points in the third period to decide the issue..
Kassen Keough, a starter two years ago who returned to the Lions this season after playing for Groton Area last year, led his team with 16 points. LA was just 11-44 from the field for 25% and turned the ball over 30 times.
LEOLA-FREDERICK: Westyn Thorpe 6 4-8 17, Gavin Nickelson 3 1-2 7, Winston Clark 4 3-3 13, Milo Sumption 2 2-2 6, Ethan Petrich 2 0-0 4, Sullivan Gill-Bollinger 1 0-0 2, Jace Thorpe 2 1-2 6, Preston Sumption 1 0-0 3, Titus Kippley 1 0-2 2, Zander Hoffman 0 2-2 2, Erik Losure 3 1-2 8. Totals 25 14-23 70.
LANGFORD AREA: Jacob Samson 0 0-2 0, Kassen Keough 6 1-1 16, Rennan Bruns 1 0-0 2, Ethan Olson 2 0-0 4, Conner Glines 1 0-2 2, Caleb Mertz 0 2-4 2, Dylan Herman 1 0-0 2. Totals 11 3-9 28.
LF (1-0) 27 42 63 70
LA (0-1) 5 16 24 28
3-point goals – W. Thorpe, Clark 2, J. Thorpe, Sumption, Losure; Keough 3.
