Lake Park throttles Batavia

Lake Park had a plan for the Batavia boys' basketball game on Friday night.

"We had a game plan," said Lake Park senior forward Trevor Montiel said. "We said no matter what happens in the first quarter, we need to stick to that game plan."

The Lancers indeed stuck to it in their 53-35 DuKane Conference win.

The Lancers improved to 17-5 overall and 5-3 in conference. Batavia fell to 11-6 overall and 2-4 in conference.

"It was a big game for us. We have to keep it rolling if we want to compete for first," said Montiel.

The Bulldogs were the first to score with a couple of free throws by Jayden Johnson about three minutes into the first quarter. Montiel got on the board with a free throw for the Lancers. Tyler Cooper made a 3-pointer about a minute later to put Batavia ahead 5-1, but it was a short-lived lead.

"We came out playing pretty well and then just went a little flat. We have some things to fix this week," said Cooper.

Both Montiel and teammate Luke Sgarbossa answered back with baskets to put the Lancers up 8-5. Another 3-pointer by Cooper tied it, 8-8. With about a minute left in the quarter, Sgarbossa and Montiel both scored to put Lake Park ahead 12-8.

"Lake Park did a really good job. It was a game for us where everything all happened at once and it wasn't good," Batavia coach Jim Nazos said.

In the second quarter, Ethan Ivan was the only Bulldog able to sink a couple baskets while Lake Park got 12 points for a 24-12 halftime lead.

"This is the best game we've played in two years," Lake Park coach Billy Pitcher said. "Sometimes you have one of those nights when everything clicks and shots fall. Defense is where we try to make our focus and I thought that was the key to the game."

Montiel and Sgarbossa both were on fire in the third quarter. Sgarbossa had three 3-pointers in the third. Both teammates scored 18 points each. Lake Park had 23 points in the third for a 47-22 lead.

"I think at the end of the first half when I got that rebound, I went down hard and finished the layup and got up with an edge," Montiel said. "It was a different atmosphere here. It was a physical game. I'm a physical guy. Coming out in the third quarter, I used that physical-ness to my advantage."