TCL VS. ICL Lisbon topples Rockets, 83-47

Lucian Smith led the Blue Devils with 25 points.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
LISBON -- Lisbon High executed from the foul line in the first quarter. In the second quarter, it executed from the floor.
In the third period, it used 3-point plays, then the Blue Devils coasted in the fourth quarter of their season opener Friday to upend Lowellville 83-47.
"Regardless of the experience you have on paper, you still have to get out there and play," said Lisbon coach Joe Siefke. "Tonight we showed the typical first-game jitters.
"This is the only home game we have in December, so it was important to get off to a good start."
Behind consecutive baskets by Vince Broll, Lowellville (0-2) took its only lead, 6-5.
Up and down
Lisbon, which battled turnovers and poor shooting from the field early, still managed to take a 13-8 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The Blue Devils committed six turnovers and were just 3-of-17 on field goal attempts, but that changed dramatically in the second period.
Lisbon, which was 7-of-7 from the foul line, got going behind the shooting of Lucian Smith, who hit his first three shots as the Blue Devils connected on 8-of-10 field goals.
"It's always good to get that first win," said Smith, who scored 25 points. "Me, I am happy just to come and play."
Smith hit 5-of-6 and came up with three assists and had a hand in eight of the first nine Blue Devil baskets in that second quarter.
He hit a 3-pointer during the uprising that helped give Lisbon a 19-point lead, 35-16.
Lowellville hung tough as it finished the half on an 8-1 run, cutting the deficit to 36-24.
Behind 39-24, Lowellville made its final run of the contest, getting a 3-pointer from Broll and a basket from Lucas Gonzalez to cut the gap to 39-29.
Pulling away
Still up 41-31, Lisbon sealed the game on three consecutive trips down the court. The first two resulted in 3-point shots from sophomore Marcus Judy and the third in a conventional three-point play from Jay Yorty.
It took just 52 seconds for those nine points as Lisbon pushed the lead to 50-31.
By the time Jeff Padurean made two foul shots in the waning seconds of the third quarter, Lisbon carried a 61-36 lead into the final eight minutes.
"Every time we got a run going, Lisbon overcame it," Lowellville coach Mike Mangine said. "They are good, they have shooters, ball handlers, rebounders. Everything."