Lakes Claims Crosstown Rivalry Hoops Game Over Clover Park, 84-72

Point guard Andrew Holloway scored a team-high 24 points and the Lakes boys basketball team turned up the heat in the second half to defeat cross-town rival Clover Park 84-72 at home Saturday night.

Holloway, who played through the game with a torn meniscus in his knee, said they knew Clover Park was going to come out strong, but they had to keep it together until they calmed down.

"To be a senior and to say we beat Clover Park as team and to leave this school saying you didn’t lose to Clover Park, I mean, it feels good," he said. They played their best (in the first half) and we had to play ours in the second half. It just traded off."

Lakes (1-0 overall) missed 11 free throws and turned the ball over 10 times in the first half. Clover Park led 44-42 at the midway point.

The Lancers turned it around in the second half by committing two turnovers and missing just four free throws. The Lancers took a 46-45 lead with a three-point shot by Jordan Johnson with 6 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

They never looked back.

Johnson — who played just one varsity game as a sophomore — filled in nicely for Nate Guy, one of Lakes' three returning varsity starters. His performance made Rodriguez believe there's another player who will have an impact on the team.

"You just saw the making of a good basketball player," Rodriquez said. "He’s going to be our next star. He’s long. He’s very crafty. He’s silky smooth."

The Lancers (1-0 overall) won a state championship this past year with a deep lineup. It was key to beating the Warriors (1-1 overall) on Saturday as four players scored in double figures including Jordan Johnson who added 16.

Johnson knew he was going to be in most of the night and that Rodriquez needed him to step up and be scorer and rebounder.

"He said just be aggressive, be an all-around player and help the team get a win, and that's what happened tonight," Johnson said.

Clover Park head coach Mel Ninnis said he's still looking to develop his bench.  Three of his players fouled out and the Warriors played with six players down the stretch.

Rorie scored a game-high 27 and Crisp contributed 13. The lighting-fast Division I talents helped Clover Park reach an early 25-15 lead to close the opening quarter.

But they didn't get enough offense from their surrounding players toward the end of the game.

"It’s the coaches responsibility to develop a bench and it’s so early (in the season) I haven’t really developed a bench."

Lakes played without 6-foot 6-inch Nate Guy. Rodriquez said he should be granted his fifth year of eligibility after Thursday's hearing.

The Lancers are the fourth-ranked team overall in the state, according to the Powerade state preseason rankings by ESPN. Clover Park was ranked eighth, respectively.

Clover Park   25   19   9   19

Lakes           15   27   18  24

CP - Crawford 9, Johnson 4, Brown 2, Pharo, Ahmad Rorie 27, Nelson, David Crisp 13, James 5, Xavier Means 12.
L - Winston, Jordan Johnson 16, White, A.J. Holloway 24, Walls 5, Andrew Lewis 10, Dozier 2, Barker 2, Tony 3, Jenkins 2, Zach Banner 20.