Boys take HPL title
By LHSports
The Broncs reclaimed the league tournament title Saturday with a 70-62 win over Sublette Saturday night at Garden City Community College.
The Broncs had won three straight titles from 2020-22, and this makes the sixth tournament title for Lakin since 2016 and 14th overall since 1951.
The Broncs led 18-13 after one period and 44-33 at halftime.
Colter Oldham led the Broncs with 17 points, and Austin Ritsema and Adrik Gomez-Esquibel each had 14.
Both teams shot 46 percent from the floor (both made 22 two-point field goals), but Lakin converted two more 3-pointers and two more free throws for the difference.
Sublette’s 29 turnovers led to 31 of Lakin’s points.
Sublette had the edge in rebounding, 39-32.
Ritsema had seven rebounds to lead the Broncs, while three others had five each.
Gomez-Esquibel had three assists.
He and MJ Gonzales and Maddux Beltran all had three assists.
Friday semifinals
Lakin 73, Stanton County 45
The Broncs played their way into the finals via a 73-45 over Stanton County, overcoming a slow start.
Lakin trailed 17-15 after one quarter but responded with a 25-11 second quarter and 20-11 third period to cruise to the win.
Lakin converted just over 36 percent from the floor (22 of 49 inside the arc) and hit just four of 23 3-pointers.
The Broncs took advantage of 29 Trojans turnovers, turning those into 30 points. Lakin committed just 10 turnovers.
Stanton County won the rebound battle 42-38.
Colter Oldham led the Broncs with 26 points and Austin Ritsema added 17.
Maddux Beltran had two steals and Adrik Gomez-Esquibel and MJ Gonzales had three assists.
Wednesday
Lakin 94, Deerfield 14
Lakin opened tournament play with a first round 94-14 win over Deerfield at the host school Elkhart.
Lakin led 25-2 after one quarter and 52-9 at halftime.
A 27-0 third quarter helped the Broncs to set a single-game team scoring record of 94 points, breaking the 2004 Holcomb total of 91.
The Broncs shot 58 percent from the floor, including 12 of 32 from 3-point range. Deerfield converted just 13 percent of their shots.
Deerfield committed 31 turnovers, leading to 45 of Lakin’s points. The Broncs committed just 10 turnovers.
Lakin dominated the boards, pulling down 45 rebounds to Deerfield’s 12.
All 12 of Lakin’s players got in the scorebook, with Noah Garcia leading the way with 19 points (including four 3-pointers) and Austin Ritsema adding 15.
MJ Gonzales and Alex Davis had three steals each. Five players had three assists each.
Ritsema led the team with eight rebounds.