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Lake Park snaps skid with win vs. Elk Grove

Lake Park was sailing in rough waters for the first time this season, taking a three-game losing streak into Monday's nonconference game against Elk Grove.

But senior forward Trevor Montiel had a feeling that skid would end.

"I could tell as soon as we came out for warmups that tonight would be different," Montiel said. "We were having fun and working hard. People were smiling and we were ready to go."

The host Lancers started fast and never stopped in racing to a 70-36 rout in Roselle. Joe Harrington sank a 3-pointer on the opening possession and the 6-foot-5 Montiel followed by scoring 6 straight points to give Lake Park (16-5) a 9-0 cushion.

Montiel finished with a game-high 21 points. Luke Sgarbossa added 16 points and 4 assists for the Lancers, who were coming off losses to Geneva, Rockford Boylan and St. Charles East.

"After our first loss we weren't there mentally at practice and then in the next game against Boylan we came out slow and the game after that we came out slow again," Montiel said. "I think it's been a mental thing for us and we've been saying we just need to play together more and trust each other more and we'll get back to what we've been able to do previously that got us those first 15 wins.

"I feel like tonight it was different. You could tell from the get-go that we wanted this one more than the past three."

Five players sank 3-pointers in the first half as the Lancers built a 38-14 lead at halftime. Sgarbossa hit four 3s, while Montiel had three 3-pointers and reserve Devon Richmond 2.

  Lake Park's Trevor Montiel shoots against Elk Grove in varsity boys basketball Monday at Lake Park. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com

Elk Grove (3-18) had no answer for that. Mark Matos made all 3 of his shots, including two 3-pointers, in the first half, but the Grenadiers made only one other basket.

"We've got to come out ready to play and we talk about that all the time," Elk Grove coach Nick Oraham said. "We're not super skilled, but we talk about playing hard and being locked in every possession, and we weren't that tonight."

Devin McKinney and Jordan Miller each scored 10 points to lead the Grenadiers, but all but 2 of those points came in the second half after the game was out of reach.

"It's kind of demoralizing - you miss some open 3s early that you probably should hit," Oraham said. "(The deficit of) 24 at half could easily be 10 if we make some, but we didn't.

"You can't allow good teams to jump on you like that."

Richmond finished with 8 points, Harrington had 7 points and point guard Montrell Perry added 5 points, 5 steals and 4 assists for Lake Park, which committed only 1 turnover.

"I didn't do a pregame talk," Lake Park coach Billy Pitcher said. "I just played 'Dear Basketball,' the Kobe Bryant short story.

"That was fitting from what happened yesterday and also from where we were at as a team. It talks about the love of basketball and that's why we're all here.

  Elk Grove's Mauro Garay looks for an option past Lake Park's Joe Harrington in varsity boys basketball Monday at Lake Park. Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com

"Our coaching staff, our players, we all love the game. So we just needed to get back to that passion and love for the game, just getting out here and competing, diving on the floor for loose balls."

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