LYNDON- The Lyndon Institute Vikings took on the Lake Region Falcons in LI's home opener. This was the first game for new head coach Phil Joyal at LI's court, as well as the first home game for three freshman on the varsity squad; and what a memorable first home game it was.
The Vikings led the charge early in the game, capitalizing on every opportunity that they had the ball. Freshman Jacky Lau led the first half scoring with eight points, in his home debut on the court. The Falcons got a lot of their own rebounds, despite their smaller size. The crowd was represented mostly by LI fans, but many fans from Lake Region found their way to Lyndon, which made the game that much more enjoyable as there was excitement from both sides. At the end of the first half LI led the game 28-19, leaving Lake Region in a hole to start the second.
The Falcons came out of the half hot, going on a 10-0 run to put them up by one, Coach Joyal had to call a timeout on the court to calm the Falcons down after their quick start. Lake Region did not stop from there as they outscored the Vikings 25-13 in the third quarter putting them up 41-44 at the end of the quarter.
At the start of the fourth quarter, LI tried to change the quick pace of Lake Region by passing the ball a lot more, and playing more aggressively, but the Falcons caught on quickly, stealing the ball away which led to scoring. With just over five minutes left in the game, the Vikings were down by ten, and the home crowd was fading as quickly as the Vikings were. The Falcons were using the clock to their advantage, slowing the pace of the game down, and keeping the ball out of the hands of the Vikings.
As the two minute mark passed, Lau hit a clutch three point shot, putting life into the team, and into the crowd, making the score 50-53. Senior forward Jay Cobb then got a quick lay-up in traffic making the score 52-55 with just under thirty seconds in regulation. The Falcons had possession of the ball, and couldn’t score on their opportunity, giving the Vikings the ball with now under ten seconds. Coach Joyal called a time out to figure out how the team was going to tie up the game, and things may not have gone as planned, but it worked.
The Falcons were playing tight defense on Lau and Cobb, two of the games highest scorers, and allowed Junior guard Hunter Murray to break free and hit the game tying three as time expired.
"No, that wasn't the plan, but sometimes the plan doesn’t always go as planned, and it's a good thing that one didn't" said Murray.
The crowd erupted, and the hearts of Lake Region were broken on the sideline, as they thought they had the game won.
In high school overtime, the teams play one or more four minute quarters, until there is a winner.
Both teams overcame exhaustion in the overtime period, going back and forth down the court with Murray scoring a couple baskets as well as Cobb. Frustration mounted for the Falcons, as they were down by four with under two minutes to go. Falcons junior Austin Roberge scored another basket, now putting his team only two points away from tying it up. Time and nerves then got the best of the team, as the Falcons were not able to put the ball in the net as the overtime period ended, giving the Vikings their first win of the season 62-60. LI plays their next game at home against North Country on December 15th.