In Dec. 4 Issue
By Derek Aaron
Times Journal Sports Editor

It didn’t take long for Coach Willie Feldhaus to get his first home win this season as his Lakers downed Lincoln County Tuesday night, 58-50, in the season’s home opener.

The Lakers got down early in the game as the Patriots went on a 10-2 scoring run to start the game.

Russell County battled back in the second quarter behind some strong shooting from Bryon Ellis and Robbie Bell and the interior play of Zach Carney and the Justice brothers, Lucas and Adam.

Bryson McFall also had a strong showing as the team’s point guard.

The Patriots led by four at halftime only to see that lead quickly diminish in the third quarter,

Ellis hit a big three pointer at the end of the third frame to put the Lakers up 10, 42-32.

The Lakers managed to keep the lead in the fourth quarterm coming away with the season’s first victory.

Bell led the Lakers in scoring with 18 points while Ellis had 17 points. Carney was the third Laker in double digits with 10 points.

Adam Justice tallied seven points while Lucas Justice had four. McFall had two points in the victory.

“It was kind of shaky at the beginning but we settled down and started hitting some shots,” Feldhaus said.

Feldhaus lauded the play of Carney, a junior, who said that he expects this type of effort every game from the lanky center.

“If he could score seven to 10 points a night and have five or six rebounds and stay under the basket and defend, that is what we need him to do,” the coach said.

Feldhaus said he was pleased with the scoring efforts of Ellis and Bell and said that the two would consistently need to put up big scoring numbers if his team is to be successful.

The Lakers host Casey County on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Feldhaus said he expects a battle with the Rebels.

“I know they like to shoot the three so we’ll have to get out and defend the perimeter and box out,” he said. “They’re a scrappy group.”