Sophomore sparks Lakewood to state in Yakima

By Steve Powell

spowell@marysvilleglobe.com

MOUNT VERNON – Seniors have led Lakewood’s boys basketball team all year, but it was a sophomore who has seen more and more playing time as the year progressed who led them to an impressive come-from-behind win over Franklin Pierce Saturday.

Blake Conyers came off the bench to score a team high 13 points to lead the Cougars to a 53-49 win over the Cardinals. Junior Shae Dixon and senior Alex Jensen added 10 each.

As a result, No. 12 Lakewood will play No. 4 Lindbergh in the 2A Hardwood Classic Wednesday in Yakima. It is the school’s first trip to the SunDome.

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It looked like Franklin Pierce would run away with it as they took at 16-4 lead early as the Cougs had trouble against the Cards half-court trap with their taller guards. But then Lakewood toughened up its match-up zone and rebounding to get right back in the game with a 13-0 run.

Dixon hit a 3 and scored off a fast break, and Jared Taylor hit a 3 then scored on a steal and layup to make it 20-15 after one period.

The defense really stiffened in the second quarter, holding the Cardinals to five points. On offense, Conyer hit a 3, Jensen stole the ball and converted the layup, and Jackson Schultz hit a 3 to make it 25-25 at intermission.

Franklin Pierce continued to struggle on offense in the third, being outscored 19-10.

Jensen and Dixon hit 3’s then Morgan Stacey passed to Conyer on a fast break for another bucket. Conyer hit two more 3’s, and Morgan scored an old-school three-point play to make it 44-35.

After Schultz hit a 3 Franklin Pierce went on an 11-0 run to tie it at 47-47 with 3:01 remaining. During that stretch it seemed like everything that could go wrong did for Lakewood – including three traveling calls, turnovers and some bad shots.

Morgan’s two free throws with 2:45 left stopped the drought.

Then, with 2:14 left, in what was probably the play of the game, Jensen hustled after a loose ball and threw it off a defender’s leg. Conyer converted a bucket to make it 51-47. After a call finally went Lakewood’s way with 31.8 seconds left when Morgan drew a charging foul, Franklin Pierce was forced to foul. Jensen made two free throws to clinch it with 19.2 seconds remaining.

Blake Conyers fights for a loose ball.

Blake Conyers fights for a loose ball.

Alex Jensen comes to a jump stop before going up for a shot against Franklin Pierce.

Alex Jensen comes to a jump stop before going up for a shot against Franklin Pierce.

Morgan Stacey gets off a jump pass against the Cardinals.

Morgan Stacey gets off a jump pass against the Cardinals.

Lakewood’s bench shows support as the game winds down.

Lakewood’s bench shows support as the game winds down.