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PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: Lakeview slips past Vikings late, 61-53

Lakeview’s Tate Varpness looks to score around a couple of Minneota defenders Tuesday. The Lakers defeated the Vikings 61-53.

MINNEOTA – The Lakeview Lakers only trailed once during their 61-53 victory over the Minneota Vikings Tuesday evening.

The Vikings led 3-2, before an Isaac Loe bucket gave the Lakers a 4-3 lead. Loe’s bucket started a 6-0 Lakers run to give the visiting team an 8-3 lead.

The quick start for the Lakers was just what the doctor ordered for a team that entered Tuesday night’s contest with a 1-4 record in their last five games.

“We did a great job of controlling the pace,” said Lakeview coach Jared Keaveny. “They had a tough game last night. We really took advantage of some fast break opportunities. We had great effort tonight. That’s what it takes to win on the road. You have to outwork teams at their home gym.”

At the half the Lakers led their Camden South foe 25-20. Minneota coach Dave Busselman said his team struggled to get into a groove on both ends of the floor.

“There isn’t a lot that we did well tonight,” said Busselman. “We fought to the end, I guess that’s one thing we did well. We never got into an offensive rhythm. I don’t know if it’s because of the back to back games or what, but we just weren’t able to get into a rhythm. We’re the type of team that once our offense gets flowing our defense gets flowing and we could just never get that going tonight. We gave ourselves a shot and didn’t quit. But we missed some free throws and missed some bunnies. It was just a struggle all the way through.”

In the second half the Lakers opened up a 13-point lead due in large point to a strong defensive performance.

“We did a great job of communicating,” said Keaveny. “We wanted to improve upon that tonight and we did. They run a lot of screens and we did a great job of handling that due to our communication.”

The leader of that strong defensive performance was junior post player, Jarod Goepferich. Goepferich finished the game with six blocks and 14 rebounds.

The main thing he did was stay vertical,” said Keaveny. “We’ve been trying to work with him on just staying vertical. He did a great job of that tonight. He responded well to our challenge tonight.

Busselman credited Lakeview’s defensive effort, but noted that his team missed a number of opportunities.

“They played some good defense on us,” said Busselman. “I’m not taking anything away from them, but we knew where we were supposed to go against their 1-3-1 zone defense and we just didn’t execute. We got killed on the boards. That’s not typically something we do. But that’s due to their size and athleticism. They are just a big athletic team.”

The Lakers had three players reach double figures. Tate Varpness led the way with 16 points. Goepferich scored 15 and Loe chipped in with 11.

Isaac Hennen led the Vikings with 11 points. Thomas Hennen, Jacob Hennen and Logan Sussner all finished with 10 points.

The Lakers (8-7) will look to pick up their ninth win Friday when they host Canby. The Lakers lost to the Lancers during their first meeting of the season 57-54.

“Hopefully we take another step in the right direction with our effort,” said Keaveny. “We have to play with intensity. Canby is going to play hard. We’re going to have to really defend and come ready to play.”

The Vikings (10-6) will travel to Tyler on Friday to take on the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights. RTR won the first meeting of the season 63-40.

Lakeview 25 36 – 61

Minneota 20 33 – 53

SCORING: Lakeview 21-48 43.8 percent (T. Varpness 5-9, 6-8 16; Goepferich 6-11, 2-2 15; Loe 3-6, 5-8 11; Wallin 2-6, 2-2 6; Imes 2-3, 0-0 6) Minneota 17-48, 35 percent (T. Hennen 4-11, 2-2 12; I. Hennen 4-7, 3-5 11; Sussner 3-7, 4-8 10; J. Hennen 3-9, 2-3 8; Boerboom 2-7, 0-0 6).

3-POINT FG: Lakeview 4 (Imes 2; Two with 1) Minneota 4 (Boerboom, T. Hennen 2).

REBOUNDS: Lakeview 37 (Goepferich 14; Loe 6) Minneota 33 (Sussner 11; I. Hennen 8).

ASSISTS: Lakeview 13 (Goepferich 4; T. Varpness 3) Minneota 3 (Three with 1).

STEALS: Lakeview 6 (Goepferich 2: Four with 1) Minneota 7 (T. Hennen 4; Three with 1)

BLOCKS: 7 (Goepferich 5; Two with 1) Minneota 1.

FOULS: Lakeview 19, Minneota 20

TURNOVERS: Lakeview 12, Minneota 12

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