CORTLAND Unbeaten Lakeview downs Niles

The Bulldogs utilized good free-throw shooting down the stretch.
By DOUG CHAPIN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CORTLAND -- The Lakeview High basketball team made it eight wins in a row to start the season, holding off Niles McKinley 58-48 Friday in a non-conference game.
The Bulldogs outscored the Red Dragons 18-8 in the last 5 1/2 minutes of the game -- including a 12-of-16 performance at the foul line.
"We knew they would play zone against us and we knew they would play an aggressive zone," Lakeview coach Larry Herrholtz said. "Coach [Ron] Price does a great job with that zone and they got us out of the things we like to do.
"They made us force some things, especially in the first half. They had us doing some things in the first half that Lakeview basketball should not do."
Lakeview's scoring statistics were balanced as usual, with Kevin Rigby, Matt Nero and Jeff Ellens scoring 11 each, and Brandon Bakker and Mike Olesh contributing eight apiece.
All of Nero's points came at the free throw line, including 6-of-6 in the final minute of the game, and Olesh scored six of his points in the final 4 1/2 minutes.
Dan Jones led Niles (3-4) with 18 points and Tim Rupert added 14.
Keeping it close
"We wanted to pack it in a little, stop their drives and close on their shooters," Price said of his team's defensive strategy. "We preferred to have them shoot from the arc. The kids executed the game plan well.
"On the road against an undefeated team, we wanted to hang around, keep it close, and maybe they miss some shots, or press a little bit," Price said. "But give them credit, they made their free throws and made the plays they needed to make."
After Jones converted a three-point play to tie the game at 40 with 5:25 on the clock, Lakeview gradually worked out to a 47-40 lead with 2:15 to play.
The lead was 50-42 before Jones buried a 3-point shot to cut the Niles deficit to five with 49 seconds left. But Nero converted four straight free throws and Olesh scored twice after long passes from Rigby.
Rigby left the game late in the first half with a cut over his eye. The injury did not affect the senior forward in the second half as he played his usual strong floor game, recording 10 rebounds and four assists.
"Kevin is one of the toughest players I've ever seen; he does everything for us," Herrholtz said. "This is his third year on varsity and he's been in all types of game situations. He's in charge out there on the floor."
The largest lead in the game before the final minutes was five, 23-18
In position
Lakeview, about midway through period two. The slow pace was part of the Red Dragons' plan.
"A game in the 40s was our goal going in," Price said. "We had a chance on the road against a real good team, but you don't make a play here or there, or a call goes against you here or there and suddenly you're down by six.
"Give Lakeview credit, coach Herrholtz has done a great job with their program. They are a team to reckon with. All the press they've been getting is well-deserved."
Though other coaches have been quick to praise the Bulldogs, Herrholtz advises caution.
"We still have a ton of things to work on, we are not a complete team yet."