HAWKS GO DOWN TO BIG BLUE 

East Boys Basketball's magical run in the Sectional ended on Saturday with a tough 55-50 loss to Hamilton. The Hawks had built some momentum in the postseason with consecutive wins over GCL foes Lasalle and St. Xavier. Saturday's sectional final game looked early on like some of that "mo" would carry over. 

Lakota East shot 11 of 20 from the floor in the first half and took a 30-23 advantage into the half. Thunderhawks junior Trey Perry scored 11 of his game-high 23 points in the first two quarters. Tyler Bachman had nine points for Lakota East.  Perry finishes his junior season leading the GMC in scoring with a 22.9 average per game.  

A slow start for East out of the break saw that lead quickly evaporate. Hamilton outscored Lakota East 22-14 in the third quarter and shot 14 of 19 (73.7%) collectively in the second half to obtain most of the momentum the rest of the way. The game saw 16 lead changes.

Big Blue was able to take a small lead in the final few minutes that the HAWKS couldn't overcome. 

Lakota East (12-13, 7-9) graduates eight seniors Luke Adkins, Ty Smyers, Elijah Perry, Derek Jackson, Jacob Stringer, Bayze Wieland, Carter Breslin, and Bachman.

“It’s as good of a group of young men that I’ve been around,” Coach Adkins said. “… My heart goes out because I’ve got a son in that grade, and I’ve known all of these kids since they were in first and second grades. That part, it’s brutal. It’s absolutely brutal to know that you’re going to lose this group you’ve been so close with."

Congratulations to all the players and coaches on another exciting season of Hawk Basketball!