Lancers-Dragons Give Us Clash To Remember

On Tuesday MAX 98.3 FM broadcasted the Argos at LaVille high school boys basketball game and it was a dandy.

Both teams left it all on the floor in one of the most hotly contested games you will see.

LaVille nipped No. 10 Argos 47-46 thanks to a pair of clutch free throws by senior guard Owen Smith with 6.9 seconds remaining.

The Dragons had a chance to win it, but senior big man J.J. Morris missed a top of the key three-pointer at the buzzer.

This was a game that featured seven ties and four lead changes.

LaVille jumped out to a 19-10 first-quarter lead thanks to some sizzling shooting. The hosts knocked down 7-of-11 shots from the field to open the contest, five of those were from three-point territory.

Argos, however, responded in the second quarter going on a 14-2 run to take a 24-21 lead 4:34 into the second stanza.

From that point on, neither team had more than a three-point lead.

It was a pretty clean game, too.

The teams combined for just 15 turnovers (LaVille six), which was somewhat amazing considering how they were getting after it defensively.

There were a total of 18 fouls called (six on Argos) and there were 13 total free throws (the Dragons were 5-of-6 from the line, while the Lancers were 6-of-7).

Much to the fans’ delight, there was plenty of outside shooting as well. The teams combined to knock down 12 three-points (seven came from LaVille).

As expected Morris was the focal point of LaVille’s defense. When the 6-foot-6 big caught the ball in or around the paint, he was almost always double- and even triple-teamed. He ended up with a dozen points (eight under his season average), nine of which came in the first half, and was held scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Picking up the scoring slack for the Dragons was junior guard Sean Richard, who went off for a season-high 21 points, 12 coming in the second half. Richard was very tough for the Lancers to contain, especially when he drove to the bucket. He knocked down all four of his free throws, and had seven two-point field goals to go along with a triple.

Head coach Michael Edison got a balanced attack from his Lancers.

Tying for team-high honors in the scoring department were sophomore Collin Czarnecki and Smith, who each had 10 points. Czarnecki knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the opening frame and then went 4-for-5 from the charity stripe. Smith had two triples and one two-point field goal before he knocked down the game-winning free throws.

LaVille also got solid contributions from senior Ryan James (nine points) and classmate Collin Allen (eight points).

Argos trailed 45-42 when Richard scored on a lay up courtesy of a great find and assist by Morris with 1:42 to play.

The Dragons took the lead for the final time after Ross Wagoner missed a three-pointer. Following an Argos timeout with 31.4 ticks to go, Richard scored again to give his team a 46-45 lead with 23.2 seconds remaining setting up the memorable finish.

We are in store for one heck of a high school basketball season if most of the games are as enjoyable and thrilling to watch as that LaVille-Argos game.

LaVille is back in action tonight as it travels to Winamac, while Argos will travel to Jimtown Saturday.

MAX 98.3 FM’s sports team will be on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee tonight to broadcast the 2-2 Lafayette Central Catholic, which finished state runner ups in Class 1A last season, at No. 14 Culver Academy (3-2) contest. Join us beginning at 7:10 p.m. ET for our pregame show followed by the tip at approximately 7:30 p.m. . Tune in to MAX 98.3 FM (WYMR) or via audio stream at max983.net.

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