This week featured two games for the LaSalle Tigers against two very challenging opponents. Although they couldn’t go undefeated for both games, they did get a very exciting win over a tough opponent in a tough environment to help climb the rankings.
The first game featured a rematch from earlier in the season against the Georgetown Bulldogs at home this past Monday, January 19, and the week finale was an away game against the Calvin Cougars in a very packed crowd for their homecoming game Friday, January 23. This Tiger team is still getting better game to game and this week was the best evidence of that.
The first time the Tigers played at Georgetown it was a tough 35-68 loss in the beginning of the season. This time the game was at home in Olla and with a newfound identity it shaped up to be a back-and-forth contest that surprised the visiting team.
The first quarter was a defensive battle that ended up tied 9-9, but the second quarter the Bulldogs found success that sustained them throughout the game. The Tigers would go on runs and never let the score get out of hand but just couldn’t quite catch up as the game concluded. The final score was 51-43 with the visitors taking the win.
Sophomore Lane Burnham found success behind the three-point line and shot well for a 20-point game and freshman Luke Lastier had a good second half for the team’s second highest point total at 9.
At Friday’s game against Calvin, the Tigers carried the same defensive intensity and settled the game down to their pace to start out as well, but the Calvin crowd helped the Cougars gain some momentum from the 3-point line to build a 4 point lead after the first quarter.
As the second quarter went on it seemed as if this game would be a repeat from Monday’s contest as the Cougars gained a double-digit lead that got up to 14 points as the game went into the half; but the second half was a different story.
LaSalle figured out the Cougar’s offense and made it a much more physical contest as they slashed through the defense and got a bunch of extra possessions through stolen passes and rebounds from free throws.
Burnham went off for three 3-pointers in the third quarter that cut into the lead and then the teams went shot for shot up until the final two minutes of the game.
Senior Tuff Street’s consistency throughout the game proved to be a deciding factor as he put up 22 for the total game and provided some very timely hustle plays that kept the Cougars from coming back. The final score from this exciting contest was LaSalle 57 – Calvin 49!
That win bumped the Tigers up a couple spots in the rankings and has now got them close to a double digit win season, the type of season the Tigers haven’t had in a long time.
Coach Duke and Coach Radar’s teamwork has provided a spark that the boys have responded well to and also gives the young team hope of a very real playoff chance.
The work continues as they are scheduled to play at home against Grant Tuesday, January 27 (Jack Frost and Elsa permitting) and at Lakeview Friday, January 30. Lakeview is one of the best teams in the state year in and year out so the Tigers will appreciate a large following to the game. Let’s show up and support these young men as they look to keep this great momentum going! Go Tigers!
