Clark’s 3-ball at buzzer gives Lakeview the win

By Chuck Housteau

CORTLAND — Lakeview High’s Justin Clark was prepared to stand in the left corner and watch teammate Joel Davis drive to the basket to try to score the winning points in the final six seconds of a 53-53 game with the Hubbard Eagles.

Instead, the Eagles trapped Davis at midcourt and Clark suddenly found a pass coming his way.

The senior guard grabbed the pass and launched a 3-pointer at the buzzer that sailed through the net for a thrilling 56-53 victory over the Eagles in a All-American Conference White Division contest at Lakeview.

“Joel was supposed to get the ball and try to get to the rim,” said Clark who tallied 12 points in the game. “They doubled him up and he was able to get the ball to me and I just let it go.

“I said ‘Go in.’”

It did and Clark made the biggest shot of his high school career count.

Lakeview coach George Lanterman said he sensed something good in the huddle with six seconds left after Hubbard’s Bobby Thompson tied the game at 53 by knocking down two free throws.

“I didn’t sense any panic in the huddle,” Lanterman said. “We put the ball in Joel Davis’ hands, he’s our point guard and we had him going to the rim.

“[Hubbard coach Rick Fox] did a nice job of doubling up Davis and he found the open guy.

“I just told Justin [Clark] that’s why you practice those shots in your driveway for all those years.”

Fox was disappointed but echoed the thoughts of Lanterman after the contest.

“It was a great game,” Fox said. “[Clark] hit a big shot out of the corner. We thought we had them stopped with the trap and they made a great pass to get off the shot.

“It was a great shot and a great game.”

Hubbard (10-5, 2-2) played without standout point guard Sam Bellino, who injured his foot against Struthers and will be out for the rest of the season but the Eagles fought back continually from several deficits to finally tie the game with six seconds.

Bobby Thompson was “Mr. Everything” for the Eagles as he scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

“Bobby played with a lot of heart and left his heart out their on the court,” Fox said.

Kurtis Drummond added 16 points and Mike Lopuchovsky scored 11.

But the Bulldogs (11-4, 3-1) won with a team effort.

Eight players broke into the scoring column led by Ethan Metheny with 13 points and Justin Clark with 11.

Robert Franks scored five of his nine points in the fourth period and the senior’s basket and free throw gave Lakeview a 53-51 lead with 20.3 seconds left in a fourth quarter that was back-and-forth in the final four minutes.

“It was a well played game,” Lanterman said. “It was two 10-4 teams playing hard and it was a good high school basketball game.”

Both teams shot well for the game and especially in the fourth quarter.

Lakeview made 7 of 9 shots while Hubbard countered by making 6 of 10 from the field.

Lakeview’s biggest lead was 10 points 25-15 in the second period in an otherwise tightly contested game.