At this time of the basketball season, every loss is a tough loss. And the Lake Region boys basketball squad suffered an especially tough setback at Wells on Tuesday evening. The Lakers battled all game long, but they fell to 8-7 on the season with a 50-45 double overtime loss to the Warriors.
The Lakers started the game on a good note, taking a 12-7 first quarter lead thanks to a three-pointer from Zach Tomkinson and a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Kurt Peterson. The Warriors answered in the second period with two three-pointers of their own and they rallied to take a 23-19 lead into the break.
The visitors stayed close in the third quarter with some pressure defense that led to a pair of steals from Philip Leighton and they trailed entering the final period 30-28.
Wells tried to take command with some early baskets and a 36-30 lead before Leighton knocked down a three to slow the run. When Peterson hit a three-pointer with just under a minute to play, the teams were deadlocked at 36. Wells missed the front end of a one-and-one and the Lakers capitalized by taking a 38-36 with 22 seconds remaining.
The Warriors tied the game with a driving layup off a set play. The Lakers had one last chance to win, but a shot from deep in the corner by Peterson went off the rim, sending the teams into an extra session.
Leighton hit three free throws in the first overtime and that proved to be all the scoring the Lakers needed to send the game into a second overtime. Tomkinson and Matt Langadas grabbed a number of big rebounds for the Lakers, but they were unable to convert those second opportunities.
Leighton scored all of Lake Region’s points in the second overtime, but this time it wasn’t enough as Wells pulled away for the hard fought 50-45 win.
Leighton finished with a game-high 20 points for the Lakers. Peterson contributed eight points and Tomkinson chipped in with six.
Lake Region has three games left in the regular season. They host Poland on Friday, travel to Waynflete on Tuesday, and then conclude the regular season by hosting Falmouth on Friday, Feb. 8.
The Lakers are currently ranked seventh in the Western Maine Class B Heal Point standings. The top 10 teams in the region will advance to the post-season.
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