Lyle/Pacelli Athletics boys basketball team downs Kingsland 75-52 in Section 1A boys basketball tournament Thursday evening
The Lyle/Pacelli Athletics boys basketball team, the No. 4 seed in the Section 1A tournament hosted No. 13 seed and Southeast Conference West Division rival Kingsland in the tournament’s second round Thursday evening, and it was senior guard Buay Koak leading three Athletics in double figures in scoring with 21 points as the Athletics downed the Knights 75-52 to move into the quarterfinals.
Both teams were under 40% shooting from the field Thursday evening as Lyle/Pacelli was 39.3% from the field overall, while Kingsland was 31.7%, but the Athletics helped their cause greatly by shooting 13 more free throws than the Knights (28-15), and draining 24 of them to 10 for the Knights. Points in the paint were dead even for the contest at 26-26, and although Kingsland outrebounded Lyle/Pacelli 36-29, the Athletics forced 24 Knights turnovers to 12 of their own. Kingsland jumped out to a 5-0 lead, which would be their largest of the game, but LP countered with an 11-0 run to take an 11-5 lead. The Knights edged back in front 14-13 with a 9-2 run and later led 19-16, but the Athletics then closed out the first half with an 18-4 run to take a 32-22 lead into the locker room at the half. LP then cracked the game wide open with a 19-5 run to start the second half to take a 51-29 lead on their way to the win.
Koak finished his last game on his home floor with not only 21 points, but also with six rebounds, one assist, four steals and two blocked shots. Fellow senior Jake Truckenmiller tallied 18 points, three rebounds, three assists, four steals and two blocked shots, Mac Nelson was also in double figures with 12 points, plus he pulled in four rebounds, dished out two assists and added a steal, Trey Anderson chipped in seven points, two rebounds and a steal, David Christianson and Mitchell Johnson both scored three points, and Hunter Bauer, Jaden May, Landon Meyer, Isaac Nelsen and Othello Stone all scoring two points apiece, plus Dyland Christianson added one point in the win.
With the win, Lyle/Pacelli is now 21-5 on the season, and the Athletics advance to play No. 5 seed Fillmore Central at 7:30 p.m. Monday evening in the Section 1A quarterfinals at the Mayo Civic Center Auditorium in Rochester. The Falcons advanced with a narrow 61-57 win over 12th seeded Faribault Bethlehem Academy Thursday night, and you’ll hear the game next Monday night on AM 1480 KAUS, with the pre-game show coming your way at 7:15 p.m.
