East Boys Basketball could not overcome some poor shooting to get past Fairfield in the Regional Semi-Finals on Wednesday, March 5th at Cintas Center. The final score was 49-42. Fairfield split with Lakota East during the regular season. The Thunderhawks won 65-49 on Jan. 11, while the Indians won 51-46 on Feb. 7.

The raced out to an early lead but the score was tied at 9-9 heading into the second quarter, and it was the Indians who owned a 23-15 at halftime.

The Indians went up 38-25 after the half. J.J. Smith knocked down a couple of 3s to keep Lakota East within striking distance, but Fairfield was able to hold on down the stretch.

Trey Perry, who finished with a game-high 18 points, walked out of the locker room Wednesday night and gave his coach one last embrace.

Perry wrapped up a stellar career at Lakota East and will play at Miami University next season. The 6-foot-2 senior guard led the Greater Miami Conference with 22.3 points and 4.3 assists a game.

“That’s a young man that cares,” Lakota East coach Clint Adkins said of Perry, the District 15 Player of the Year. “He cares about the game, cares about his team, cares about his program. It’s heartbreaking. This is the worst day of the year.”

Lakota East (17-8) graduates Trey Perry, Michael Akindele, Enzo Tchetgnia, Gabe Gaither, Ibrahim Kebe, D.J. Samuels and Carson Springmeyer.

“It’s a special group of young men who got us back to Sweet 16 Day,” Adkins said. “Obviously, we’re going to miss them. They’re good basketball players, but more importantly, they’re awesome people.”

East finishes the season at 17-8 overall and 11-5 in the GMC to wrap another tremendous season for the Hawks.