Lakeside Seals Comfortable Victory After Slow Start

It had been almost a month since last won. And even longer since the team managed it with breathing space. Thanks to a high-tempo, physical game plan and the shooting of Nathan Riley, the Vikings finally made winning less stressful for longtime coach Larry Pierce. The small forward put on a masterclass last night, bagging 23 points, including four shots from outside the arc, in a 92-76 win over visiting North Atlanta.

Lakeside (3-2) ended a three-game skid, but still looked shaky at times.

North Atlanta matched the Vikings in the early stages, leading 14-13 by the end of the first quarter before Riley found his precision. Starting with a pair of free-throws at 7:51 on the second-quarter clock, Riley shot 10 points in the same period alone, in which Lakeside outscored North Atlanta 29-22 for a more comfortable, 43-53 advantage at halftime.

Riley also chipped in with a three pointer almost on cue with the third quarter buzzer with Lakeside still up 61-53. John McKenzie's 12 points was the team's next best.

"We're getting better; we didn't give up as many baskets as we have been," Pierce said. "Our guys had to work hard on the boards, and they started doing better at that tonight."

Lakeside's speed was key to the win, said the coach whose consistent bench rotation kept fresh legs on the court.

"We play fast all the time and practice fast, but most teams don't," he said. "If we're good, that's what can happen. North Atlanta's averaging 55 points a game. We felt like we were making them play faster than they normally do."

The visitors were outscored 31-23 in the fourth quarter.

"Everybody played hard, defensively," Pierce said. "But we'll work hard to eliminate some of our fouls."