Lakeside overcame their loss to Minden early in the season with a 45-43 win over the Tide on Thursday afternoon in the Haughton tournament.
“It felt good to just get a win and it was much sweeter to beat a big rival,” Lakeside head coach Marlon McDaniel said. “Especially after how we played against them just a couple nights ago.”
Minden led 35-32 heading into the fourth quarter. The Warriors adjusted by beginning to switch all screens on defense, which frustrated Minden offensively. Lakeside jumped passing lanes to get steals, and converted them into points on the other end.
“Coach McDaniel did a great job preparing his team,” Minden head coach Rennie Bailey said. “They played with real poise and composure. Hats off to him.”
Travion Sanders started the fourth quarter with an assist to Ondray Miles that cut the lead to one. Sanders took over in the fourth with a number of drives on the fastbreak where he was able to find the open man for a layup, usually Miles.
Miles led the Warriors with 16 points.
Kiernan Combs drove to the basket and got fouled with three minutes to play which finally stopped the bleeding for Minden.
Combs hit a floater with two minutes left in the game to put the Tide down just one point.
After another Sanders-to-Miles fastbreak put Lakeside up three with a minute to play, Minden desperately needed a big shot.
The Tide pushed the ball down the floor and made the extra pass three times as every player on the floor touched the ball. Finally, the ball landed in Zi Crawford’s hands beyond the three-point line. Crawford buried a three to tie the game with thirty seconds left.
Lakeside didn’t panic, as Branthony Brown quickly found Miles under the basket for an easy layup as the clock went under ten seconds.
Minden struggled to get a good shot as time expired, and Lakeside escaped with a win.
“I’m pleased with our attitude with handling adversity,” Bailey said. “We got behind early, and our kids managed it by staying together.”
Despite the loss, Bailey said that his team grew in the game against Lakeside.
“We grew up as a team tonight,” Bailey said. “We had leadership, we stayed together and we were able to come back in the game.”
Minden (5-3) plays next at Airline on Dec. 4.
Lakeside plays North DeSoto today at 7 p.m. in the Haughton Tournament.