MABEL — Last second shot attempts bounced away and Lyle/Pacelli lost a close battle to Mabel-Canton in Friday night's Southeast Conference boys basketball game.
The visiting L/P Athletics led by five points at halftime and they were tied against the M-C Cougars with only a minute left in the second half. The home team then closed it out for a 60-56 win.
It was tied at 52-all heading into the final minute of play. The two teams traded baskets, but the Cougars came up with a key three-point play to take the lead. M-C finished it off with free throws.
Ryan Rust and David Diang led the way offensively for the Athletics. Rust scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Diang, who had 14 total for the game, hit a three-pointer to end the first half for L/P.
"Diang threw up a halfcourt prayer at the buzzer that somehow went in for a five-point lead at halftime," L/P coach Casey Anderson said. "Ryan had his first double-double of the season and he showed up to play in this game."
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M-C (7-14 overall, 7-8 SEC) was led by Steve Smith with a game-high 29 points. Dalton Stoen added 17 points in the home win.
"Smith is 6-foot-4 and just a force in the paint," Anderson said. "He's a big solid athletic kid at 230 pounds, but we did a good job of fronting him and using double teams. Still, he can jump and gets a lot of rebounds. Smith only had one free throw, but just cleaned up on the boards."
Turnovers and missed scoring opportunities cost the Athletics dearly in the final minute. With the loss, the Athletics fall to a 6-9 record in the SEC.
"We had two possessions, but threw the ball away with 20 seconds left and then missed another shot at the end," Anderson concluded. "Overall, it was a good game. The kids played hard the whole way and there were no down stretches. We're getting there and starting to play more consistent."
Lyle/Pacelli (6-14 overall) plays Schaeffer Academy of Rochester in a home conference game on Monday night.
Mabel-Canton 60, Lyle/Pacelli 56
LYLE/PACELLI (56)
Ryan Rust 23, David Diang 14, Skylar Meyer 3, Carter Guthmiller 6, Max Brennan 2, Colton Scherer 5, Michael Hutchinson 3.
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MABEL-CANTON (60)
Steve Smith 29, Dalton Stoen 17, Jacoby Bigalk 3, Ben Steuart 4, Derek Curtis 5, Noah Manning 2.
Halftime:L/P 29, MC 24.
Free throws:LP 6-11, MC 6-10.
Three-point goals: LP 4 (Diang 2, Scherer 1, Rust 1). MC 1 (Curtis 1).
