Lyle/Pacelli boys’ basketball team overcomes second-half surge by Fillmore Central to win 78-70 in Section 1A tournament
The Lyle/Pacelli Athletics boys’ basketball team, the No. 6 seed in the Section 1A boys’ basketball tournament and one of six teams in the field with over 20 wins entertained 11th seeded Fillmore Central at All Saints Arena at Pacelli Schools in Austin Thursday night, and although the Falcons were able to rally back from a huge halftime deficit to brielfly take a one point lead in the second half, the Athletics were able to gather themselves and retake the lead on their way to a 78-70 win.
Lyle/Pacelli dominated the first half and led by 22 at the halftime break at 48-26, but Fillmore Central made it known that they were not going quietly into the night as they turned the game in their favor at the start of the second half and came all the way back to briefly take a one-point lead with just under 5:30 to go, but the Athletics were able to work their way back in front shortly thereafter at the free throw line, and they were able to hold the Falcons at bay for the remainder of the game on their way to the win.
Junior guard Buay Koak had yet another monster game for LP with 30 points, which included four of Lyle/Pacelli’s 12 3-pointers in the game, plus he added seven rebounds, one assist and seven blocked shots, guard Jake Truckenmiller was also in double figures in scoring with 19 points, plus he added three rebounds, four assists and two steals, Mac Nelson contributed 17 points, a team-high eight rebounds, three assists and a steal, Trey Anderson chipped in five points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal, David Christianson tallied three points and Landon Meyer and Hunter Bauer each scored two points for the Athletics, who not only helped themselves to the win with their 3-point shooting, but they were also 44% overall shooting from the field, and they also were 22-27 from the free throw line for just over 81%.
With the win, Lyle/Pacelli is now 23-4 overall on the season, and the Athletics will next tangle with No. 3 seed Goodhue, who defeated 14th seed Bethlehem Academy 76-34 Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday evening at the Mayo Civic Center Auditorium. You’ll hear the game live on AM 1480 KAUS, with the pre-game show set for 7:15, and tip-off at 7:30 p.m.
