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Harvest Christian undone by Indian Creek

Indian Creek guard Mike Lampson appeared to be preparing himself for an IHSA postseason 3-point shooting contest Monday night.

But the junior was only making his season debut against Harvest Christian at the Burney Wilkie Classic, the eight-team post-Thanksgiving boys basketball tournament Aurora Christian hosts.

Lampson pumped home five of his seven 3-pointers before halftime as the Timberwolves blitzed Harvest Christian with game-controlling runs in each of the first two quarters of a 66-43 victory.

Harvest Christian fought back valiantly behind Ben Lothery and guard Matt Ellett, but the Timberwolves' three other starters in double figures proved untenable for the Lions' cause.

Lampson drained his first 3-point attempt to trigger a 17-3 game-opening run for Indian Creek.

Lothery tried to stem the Timberwolves' onslaught to give Harvest Christian (0-2) an undeniable boost of energy with 10 eventual first-half points.

The Lions closed to within 28-17, only to have Indian Creek respond by scoring 15 of the next 16 points.

Lampson had 15 of his game-high 21 points - all on field goals from beyond the arc - at halftime.

"We have a record, and I was going for it," Lampson said of the Timberwolves' program-best 11 3-pointers in a game. "I didn't stay in long enough to get it."

"We knew they could shoot," Harvest Christian coach Bryan Bradshaw said of the Timberwolves' 11 conversions from downtown.

"We weren't talking enough on defense and didn't contest him," the Lions' Daniel Doby said of the Lampson perimeter barrage.

The second Indian Creek decisive run was triggered by easy buckets in transition.

Lothery and Ellett had their respective efforts of 17 and 15 points overshadowed by the Timberwolves, who built a 45-23 cushion at halftime.

"They do a nice job for us offensively," Bradshaw said of his two leading scorers.

Unfortunately for Harvest Christian, the continued solid play of Lothery and Ellett could not overcome the Timberwolves' game-long advantage.

The five Indian Creek starters were spectators during the fourth quarter, conducted under a continuous running clock.

"We're a young team," Bradshaw said. "We fell into a hole early. It's only the second game of the season."

Harvest Christian returns to action at the tournament Tuesday evening to face Joliet Catholic.

Ellett had two 3-pointers after the intermission for Harvest Christian.

Cooper Larsen (15 points), Brennan McNally (13) and Cameron Russell (12) joined Lampson in double figures for Indian Creek.

"We will learn from this," Bradshaw said.

In the second game at Aurora Christian Monday, St. Edward defeated Parkview Christian 53-36 behind a 26-point game by JP McGuire.

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