Lions drop heartbreaker in home opener
By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER
Foul trouble proved costly for the Runnin’ Lions on Tuesday night as they hosted their home opener on Tuesday night against Lockhart’s newly-crowned rival, the Vandegrift Vipers.
The Lions came out of the locker room hot and ready to win, breaking the scoring seal as Clay Buehring put the first
points on the board for the night. The two evenly-matched teams traded buckets and turnovers throughout a fast-paced first quarter, with the Lions ending the quarter down 14-9.
The pace continued through the second, with nearly even scoring patterns and strong defense on both sides of the court. Bruce Busbee and Jason Roland both came alive with the long shot, each putting up three-pointers before the end of the half, which closed with the Lions hot on the Vipers’ trail at 27-21.
After the break, the Lions locked down on defense, making key steal and rebounds that put them within four. Also in the Lions’ favor, a series of personal fouls against the Vipers sent Roland and CJ Sanchez to the free-throw line, allowing them to chip away at the Vipers’ small lead.
The tide turned against the Lions early in the fourth, though. After closing the gap to three points, a growing list of six personal fouls against the Lions ground away at their confidence. Eleven free throws off the Viper line allowed Vandegrift to expand their lead, finally closing the night with the Lions on the short end of a 60-48 score.
Roland led the night on the scoreboard, with 15 total points, including two three-pointers. He was 7-9 from the free-throw line. Busbee followed right behind, with 12 points, and 100 percent effectiveness at the free throw line, sinking all five of his attempts.
Buehring picked up nine points for the Lions, while Tyrell Williams had four. Sanchez and Seth Wright scored three points each, and Brandon Clinger rounded out the Lions’ scoring with two.
The Lions will open their District season on Tuesday, as they travel to San Antonio to face the Memorial Minutemen. They will return to the Lions’ Den on Friday, Dec. 19, to host the Kerrville Tivy Antlers.
