Lions Drop Semi-Final Game
The Lustre Christian Lions held the lead at one point during the fourth quarter but lost to two-time defending state champion Manhattan Christian, 48-42, in the semi-final round of the Class C boys’ basketball tournament in Great Falls on Thursday, March 7.
The Lions trailed 34-33 at the end of the third quarter and by a 37-33 margin early in the fourth period, but Lustre kept the heat on with a drive by Clay Reddig and a layup by Johnslee Pierre after a steal by Cam Reddig.
After Manhattan Christian’s forward Christian Triemstra scored off a pass from Mason Venema to put the Eagles up 41-37, Lustre pulled to 41-40 on a threepoint play by Cam Reddig.
A basket by Pierre after a steal by Cam Reddig put the Lions ahead 42-41 with four minutes to play.
Manhattan Christian went back ahead on a pair of free throws by Issac Hoekema with 1:57 remaining. A tipin by Venema increased the Eagles’ lead to 45-42 with 1:16 remaining.
After the Lions missed on a three-point attempt, Manhattan Christian’s Hoekema scored off a long rebound to put the score at 47-42 with 23 seconds remaining. Lustre then missed on two more three-point tries.
Top scorers for the Lions were Cayden Klatt with 11 and Pierre with 10 points. Cam Reddig finished with nine points. Also scoring were Clay Reddig with seven and Terran Joseph with five points.
Byron Ewing grabbed eight rebounds and Pierre had seven boards. Clay Reddig and Cam Reddig each finished with three assists. Cam Reddig had three steals.
Manhattan’s Venema accounted for 15 points and 11 rebounds. Hoekema scored 10 points. Triemstra grabbed nine rebounds.
The shooting of Klatt led the Lions to a 12-6 advantage during the first quarter.
With the score at 14-12, the Lions earned a 20-14 lead on a three-pointer by Cam Reddig and a three-pointer by Joseph at the buzzer.
Lustre’s offensive attack struggled against Manhattan Christian’s tough manto man defense during the second quarter. The Eagles outscored the Lions by a 10-0 margin in the period for a 2420 lead.
The Lions also played well defensively in the second quarter. Highlights included blocked shots by Ewing and Pierre.
Clay Reddig accounted for a three-point play midway into the third period to close the margin to 26-25. After the Eagles moved ahead 31-27, Cam Reddig hit a three-pointer for the Lions.
The Eagles went ahead 34-30 on a three-pointer by Carter Van Dyken, but Klatt answered with a three-pointer for a 34-33 score after three quarters of action.
