DOYLINE – When Lakeside and Doyline get together in basketball for the Battle of the Paddle, it’s always an intense matchup.
Monday night’s installment at Doyline High School was no exception,.
The Lakeside Warriors emerged from the game with a 78-66 win in their opener, but not without a fight from the Panthers.
“We knew it was going to be tough going to Doyline,” Lakeside head coach Jason Gould said. “They’re going to play well on their home floor. They shot the ball really well and really made us work for this win.”
The game got off to a fast start with both teams pushing the pace. In a quarter that looked more like a track meet than a basketball game, Lakeside got out to an early, slim lead. The Warriors did their damage from behind the three point line, while Doyline was relentless in the lane scoring on several layups and putbacks.
“I told my guys before the game to just give me the effort and that’s all I’ll ask of you,” Doyline head coach Mike Normand said. “I thought this was one of our better games rebounding. We’re always kind of outmanned on the boards because of our size, but I thought our rebounding is what kept us in the game.”
In the second quarter Doyline outscored the Warriors 12-9 to make it an eight-point game at the half.
In the third quarter the game went back and fourth with Lakeside clinging to a slim lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Warriors found their shooting stroke, including five triples from Jalen Gould, extending their lead to double digits down the stretch.
“We’re 1-0 and we’ll keep the paddle for another year,” Gould said,
One difference in this game was free throws, as Doyline struggled to knock them down.
“We were aggressive from the beginning,” Normand said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re getting to the line though if you can’t knock them down.”
Quatarus Solomon led Lakeside with 20 points, followed by Jalen Gould with 15 and Jamarion Teal with 14. Doyline got 30 points from Jaylon Jackson, 13 points from Jatavion Jackson and 12 from Tyreck Wilson.
In girls action, the Lady Warriors defeated the Lady Panthers 43-24.
“The third quarter was big for us,” Lady Warriors head coach Tavasha Anderson said. “They came out of halftime and made all the adjustments I asked of them. We’re a young team but they do a good job of doing what’s asked of them.”
Destine Joiner led Lakeside with 19 points to lead all scorers. Senior Cayla McKinsey added six points, as did sophomore Jasmine Lewis and eighth grader Jamiya Winzer.
Tia Thomas led the Lady Panthers with 14 points and Kayla Thomas added seven points.