Lakeside’s Trap Pinches O’Dea, Lions win 69-54
By Colin Caruso
| Monday- January 21 | Game 3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Brougham Pavilion – 12:00pm | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| O'Dea | 9 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 54 | |
| Lakeside | 13 | 20 | 21 | 15 | 69 | |
Lakeside’s relentless backcourt trap gave the Lions easy transition baskets early, jumping out to a 13-9 first quarter lead. Lions guard Tremaine Isabell led the rally with eight points of his own. O’Dea continued to have difficulties with the trap early in the second quarter, not finding the open man when Lakeside brought the additional defender. When O’Dea was able to break the trap they were left with easy chances and baskets at the rim. O’Dea, led by Aaron Falaniko and his 14 in the second quarter, kept the deficit to just four going into the second half.
Lakeside backed off the pressure to start the second half, but continued to build their lead by spreading the floor and capitalizing on open looks. Seven Lions scored in the third period, to close the quarter with a 54-44 lead. O’Dea could not match Lakeside’s intensity in the fourth quarter, allowing Lakeside to extend the lead to 19 late in the period, 67-48. Lakeside discontinued the trap in the fourth, matching up at half court, but still forcing the Irish into tough jump shots.
The Lions quickness off the dribble changed the course of this game, forcing help defense from the Irish and creating open looks for Lakeside. Lakeside held on to their big lead winning 69-54.
Leading Scorers:
Lakeside
Tramaine Isabell (25)
D’Marques Tyson (18)
O’Dea
Aaron Falaniko (20)
Jamie Orme (10)