LAKEWOOD — The Cougars had a new look, but the same result Dec. 19 in a 61-54 non-conference loss to Interlake.

“We’re starting to play like we need to win, but it’s the same story,” said Lakewood coach Matt Hart. “We’re adding pieces with each game, but we haven’t been able to put it all together yet.”

In what was the Cougars’ closest result this season, Hart’s boys rallied from 13-point deficit in the third quarter to a tie game at 52-52 with just under four minutes remaining.

The only Lakewood lead was at 2-0 in the first quarter, which quickly turned into a 20-10 Interlake advantage due to suffocating guard pressure and timely shooting by guard Ricky Aaron.

“We got some really good minutes from Beau (Wiersma), he gave us a lot of energy,” Hart said. “And he can do that, he’s a great athlete with some size.”

Wiersma scored 10 points as part of a Lakewood 14-2 second-quarter run that evened the score at 24-24. It was during the second half that Interlake looked to try and put it away, this time due key plays by forward Jeffrey Kimmel on both sides of the court.

“He was scrappy,” Hart said of Kimmel. “He did a great job rebounding and changing a lot of our shots.”

Interlake led 43-30 in the third when the combined play of post Nathan Hesselman and Joseph Hawkins shifted the momentum. The two combined for 14 of the Cougars’ final 20 points to even the score again.

“He’s still kind of rusty,” Hart said of Joseph, who finished with nine points. “But he’s a great piece for us. He did a good job rebounding the ball and finishing in the lane.”

With the score tied at 52 a piece, Interlake called a timeout.

“I told the guys that the game was going to come down to rebounds and they got them and made a few key shots,” Hart said.

Interlake finished the game on a 9-2 run, leaving Lakewood (0-5) still searching for a win and answers.

There were high expectations before the season started for Hart’s squad, which is comprised of 10 seniors. Hart said that every loss adds a little more pressure to a team that is poised to start winning often.

“Physically, we are a team that can beat a lot of the teams we have and will play this year,” he said. “And now we really have to start doing so because it’s league play.”

The Cougars opened their Cascade Conference schedule just a day earlier with a 75-68 loss to Cedarcrest. While getting shots to fall was a main concern to start the season, Lakewood has scored 122 points in its last two games.

The Cougs were also without top scorer Tre’ Haslom, who did not play because of a coach’s decision, which left them showing off their depth.

“This is a really deep team,” Hart said. “I try to keep the rotation tight, but on a night like tonight it was more about having fun and trying to play loose and see what happens. We did that and it was good to see them play well.”

Lakewood takes a week off and resumes play with a home game against Lambrick Pack Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.