Win Sends Lions to Second Round

Following a 38-30 loss to Shore Conference Tournament finalist Rumson, in the first round of the SCT, the Lacey Lions were back in action Tuesday night - this time in the state playoffs.

The third-seeded Lacey Lions powered past the Gloucester County Institute of Technology Cheetahs (14th seed) with a blowout 68-33 win in the South Jersey Group III first round matchup.

Lacey showed a little rust early in the first quarter, trailing until Tasheen Carrow hit a three-pointer as time was winding down.

"I think the boys were a little nervous to start," said Lacey head coach Ryan O'Rourke. "They had a few deep three-point shots land for them and that might have caused us to lose focus a little."

A bounce-back 26 point outburst in the third quarter put Lacey in a great position to win heading into halftime.

Mike Harris played a large role in the Lions pulling away. The senior was brilliant from beyond the arch hitting two big three pointers. Harris hit a three to make the score 17-11, as the Cheetahs would not get within one possession of the Lions again.

Harris' second big shot was also a three and pushed the score to 25-13, as the floodgates soon opened for Lacey.

"He's our best shooter," said O'Rourke. "He was hurt for a while and that made his confidence struggle, but he came out tonight and showed us just what he could do."

Harris led the Lions with 14 points, 12 of them coming by way of the three-pointer.

The Lions had a rather slow moving third quarter as the came out of the locker room sloppy, but claimed a 50-27 lead as the fourth quarter started. Harris hit another three just before the buzzer.

Lacey never took their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter. In the closing minutes many of the players with limited roles enjoyed some playing time and succeeded as well.

Seniors Dylan Joslin and Deon Smith both finished with nine points each. Juniors Logan McDonald and Tyrell Smith scored eight and seven points, respectively.

Tasheen Carrow, who gave the Lions the lead at the end of the first, performed as well as anyone tonight. The junior scored 11, all the while playing tough defense and distributing the ball well.

"He's a great guard - offensively and defensively," said O'Rourke. "When he is in the game our pace always seems to pick up."

The Lions will advance to round two of the South Jersey Group III playoffs. The time and location of the next game has yet to be announced.