Titans stop Tigers to end regular season

Leola/Frederick made a short trip down to Ipswich on Friday, Feb. 25 and came away with a 39-31 upset victory over the Tigers. But there are really no upsets in Lake Region Conference league play, particularly when those two rival teams take the floor.

Defense was the name of Friday's game with each team managing a 5-5 tie in the opening quarter. The second quarter resulted in a 14-12 advantage for the visitors, despite a five-point mini run by the Tigers, consisting of a Taylor Thorson rebound put-back and a Trevor Heinz trey that briefly produced a 12-11 Tiger lead.

The second half would then feature Taylor Thorson and Gohl baskets to start the third quarter with a 18-14 Tiger lead. But the Titans drew into a 18-18 tie with a quarter to play and would then dominate the final quarter 21-13 to seal their deal, netting four free throws down the stretch.

Ipswich was led that evening by Taylor Thorson with 11 total points, including one trey. Next would be Heinz with five points that featured his trey. Ian Beyers also included a trey among his four points and Ty Kadlec netted four points as well. Trevor Beyers contributed a trey for his three points, followed by Zach Geditz and Gohl with two points apiece.

The Titans obtained 10 points from Ethan Morlock that included a pair of three-balls. Colton Spitzer added nine points and Brayden Sumption, seven points also including two treys. Mason Hinz added six points, Vincent Petrich four points and Hans Lapka three points thanks to a trey.

The Titans would end up shooting 13-44 from the floor that included those five treys and were 8-13 in free throws. Ipswich responded with a 12-43 floor-shot evening that would include its four treys. The Tigers finished 3-4 at the charity stripe, but just didn't get there all that often.

The Tigers were able to obtain 34 rebounds, led by Kadlec with 12 and Taylor Thorson with six. The visitors responded with 29 rebounds, paced by Hinz with seven boards and Spitzer with six.

Ipswich sustained 16 turnover; L/F, 11. The Titans came up with nine steals and Ipswich, seven, led by Trevor Beyers and Heinz with two each.

That outcome left Ipswich with a 13-7 mark entering regional play. The Tigers were to host a Tuesday, March 1 regional bracket game in the Tiger Den vs. Highmore-Harrold.