Lakeland's Season Ends in Heartbreaking Fashion

It may not be in the dictionary but the word “heartbreak” can likely best be defined by a last-second shot that goes against your team. Unfortunately for the Lakeland basketball team that definition rings true.

On Wenesday, Walled Lake Northern’s Jared Sheena drained a three-pointer as time expired ending the Eagles season with a 58-57 loss.

Lakeland (11-11) missed the front end of two one-and-ones in the final 15 seconds, giving the Knights (11-10) an opportunity for the tie or win. Ryan Soulet handled the ball and while driving to the lane kicked out to a wide open Sheena who hit nothing but net as Northern’s students stormed the floor. 

Sheena had missed two free throws with 26.2 seconds remaining that could have tied the game. But in the ensuing huddle, Knight head coach Ron Thompson told his junior guard that he would have the opportunity for redemption. 

“He told me not to worry about it and keep my head up because we’d get another chance,” Sheena said among a mass of fellow schoolmates. “He told me to keep my head up.” 

It was not the way Lakeland head coach Bob Brugger envisioned the game ending, but once again free throws proved to the difference. Lakeland appeared to be in good shape when senior guard Ty Bouwens nailed two free throws for a 57-55 lead with 34 seconds left. The Eagles actually shot better than its collective percentage for the year finishing 14-for-23.

But, it was a story of lost opportunities as was the case with many close losses this year. 

“We had chances but it just didn’t happen,” Brugger said. He credited Thompson with putting the ball in Soulet’s hands, freeing up Sheena for the open shot. “We were really looking for (Northern forward) Gage Throgmorton because he is such a great shooter too, but they made the play.” 

There were four lead changes and five ties in the fourth quarter, but Lakeland’s chances were hurt in the final minute when both Ryan Zukowski and Chuck Sanders fouled out. Zukowski scored 23 points to lead all scorers and Sanders had 15 points and 10 rebounds despite being in foul trouble for much of the game. 

“That did change the game because Ryan was great tonight and Chuck was really hitting the boards and all over the floor,” Brugger said. 

Throgmorton scored 20 points to lead the Knights. Soulet added 11 points. 

Lakeland held a tenuous lead for much of the third quarter before falling behind by two early in the fourth. Troy Baertson nailed a triple to put Lakeland ahead 50-48 with 3:30 left. More than a minute later Zukowski found Sanders for an easy layup. The Eagles regained a four-point lead with a Zukowski leaner at the 1:18 mark before the final minute. 

Sanders had 13 points and seven rebounds in the first half. There were also more than 20 total fouls called with bodies flying all over the floor on seemingly every possession. The first half ended tied at 29 after Kirk Thomas banked one in at the buzzer. 

The third quarter was even closer with three lead changes and neither team ahead by more than three points. Sanders picked his third foul midway through the third and sat the remainder of the quarter. Again, Northern scored at the buzzer, an offensive tip in for Leo Susick, cutting the Lakeland lead to 42-41. Zukowski had eight points in the quarter. 

The emotion of the game hit Lakeland’s players following the game and Brugger could only shake his head at the end. For a team that was involved in a down-to-the-wire scenario in virtually every game this season, he praised a group of outgoing seniors who played well and hard in their final game. 

“They laid a good foundation,” Brugger said. “I’m proud of how we played tonight and how we’re handling (the loss).”