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Crown Point clamps down on Bombers

Matt Brandes of Lake Placid turns up the court after coming down with a rebound during Friday’s game against Crown Point. Also pictured are Blue Bombers Nick Marvin (22) and Jack Armstrong and Crown Point’s Thomas Woods and Cody Crammond (10). (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

LAKE PLACID — The Lake Placid boys basketball team struggled at home against a defensive-minded Crown Point squad Friday, falling 39-30 to the Panthers in Mountain and Valley Athletic Conference action.

The Blue Bombers took a 7-0 lead to open the game, and Crown Point answered with 13 straight points while shutting out Lake Placid to own a 13-7 edge at the end of the first quarter.

The Panthers scored the first two baskets of the second quarter to complete a 17-0 run, and the Blue Bombers then battled back to cut their deficit to 20-17 at halftime. Crown Point took control in the third by outscoring the hosts 12-2 to lead 32-19 entering the fourth period.

Lake Placid closed the game out with an 8-2 run.

“They are a tough opponent, very quick and aggressive for sure,” Lake Placid coach Brian VanNostrand said. “We started off strong, and our fourth quarter was strong. In the middle they kind of turned up the intensity and we lost it. That third quarter killed us big time.

Lake Placid’s Adnan Cecunjanin drives into the lane while Noah Spaulding defends for Crown Point during the third quarter of Friday’s game. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

“We need to finish around the hoop, and that starts in practice challenging each other,” VanNostrand added. “Defensively, we do a very nice job.”

Although they struggled with ball control at times, the Panthers knocked down some big three-pointers at key times, and especially in the second half. Cody Crammond and Noah Spaulding combined to hit six three-pointers in the contest. Crammond finished with 14 points and Spaulding chipped in 11.

Junior Matt Brandes paced Lake Placid with a game-high 19 points. Nick Marvin was the Blue Bombers next-highest scorer, finishing with six points.

“We got off to a slow start offensively for the second night in a row,” Crown Point coach Jason Hughes said. “It’s hard on these long bus trips, and getting off to a strong start is something we need to work on. I’m proud of how my guys fought defensively. It’s what’s got us our 10 wins. We did it again tonight.”

“We’re deep, we press, we’ve done a good job on defense, but obviously we have to score with the basketball to win games,” Hughes added. “We did just enough of that to kind of squeak one out tonight. Lake Placid was very prepared. They were fast, they started with a lot of energy and they hung around for a long time.”

Schyler Jordan looks to pass for the Blue Bombers during second-half action against Crown Point. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

The Panthers’ win completed a two-game sweep over the Blue Bombers in regular-season play. Crown Point triumphed 45-42 at home when the teams first met up on Dec. 12. They improved to 8-1 in the league and 10-3 overall with the win.

Lake Placid dropped to 3-8 with the setback and next plays Wednesday at Bolton.

“Going down to that gym is always tough, but hopefully we’re prepared and ready to go after it,” VanNostrand said. ”

Jack Armstrong of Lake Placid defends against Crown Point’s Ross Thomas late in Friday’s game. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

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