Lakewood boys basketball victory in OHSAA Foundation game provides promise
HEBRON — The slate will be wiped clean before Wednesday night’s season opener at Millersport, but the Lakewood boys basketball team will remember the feeling.
The Lancers showed reason for optimism Friday, beating visiting Columbus East 57-36 in an Ohio High School Athletic Association Foundation game. It was an encouraging dress rehearsal under new coach Dan Shackleford.
"It 100% gives our team confidence and gives me confidence as a player to keep going and doing our best," said senior Carson Watts, the top returning player from a 1-22 campaign last winter. "We just worked our butt off. It was a great experience for us."
The one-two punch of sophomore Colton Ferry and Watts impressed on the offensive end, but the defense is what pleased Shackleford. The Lancers held the short-handed Tigers, who were missing a few players following their football team’s run to the Division IV regional semifinals, to just four points in each of the first two quarters.
Lakewood’s help defense, drawing multiple charges and getting deflections was reminiscent of the play seen at Newark, where Shackleford has been a long-time assistant. Of course, Shackleford reminded his players they did not meet their high standard during the third quarter after allowing 14 points.
"Our message was to enjoy it, and we have been preaching through the whole preseason is you have to enjoy the little things and small victories," said Shackleford, whose team will be busy, visiting Highland on Friday and Maysville on Saturday following the aforementioned opener at Millersport.
"You are never as bad as you think you are, and you are never as good. You are somewhere right between," Shackleford added. "The challenge is to stay even-keel."
Ferry was decisive with his decision-making, scoring off the dribble and hitting a first-half 3-point from the corner. He totaled 23 points for a team that averaged just 31 last season.
Watts, who can play effectively with or without the ball, added 12 points. He and Jacob Whiteman are the only two seniors for Shackleford, who started junior Adam Crawford and sophomores Troy Martindale and Stephen Slocum with Watts and Ferry.
"I just want to be there for them, be a leader," Watts said. "I give them motivation to keep going through the drills that coach has us do."
Shackleford challenged the Lancers to finish strong in the fourth quarter, and they did just that, opening on a 13-1 run beating East in transition when the Tigers extended their defense.
Eight players reached the scoring column with Crawford totaling eight points and Martindale seven, including a 3. Junior Luke Pierce, a soccer standout, had a basket in transition and is an asset defensively off the bench.
"We understand we have a sense of urgency," Shackleford said. "As much as you want to be a mad scientist at times, but we also have to remember we are trying to accomplish some lofty expectations. At the end of the day, we have to put the best five, seven, eight guys out there we think gives us the best opportunity, but trust me, there's been some molding."
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Lakewood boys basketball win in OHSAA Foundation game provides promise
