Tenth-ranked Loyola used fundamental defense and capitalized on poor shooting by Lake Clifton as the host Dons defeated the No. 4 Lakers, 71-68, yesterday in a Maryland Scholastic Association A Conference Division I game.
The Lakers (4-1, 2-1), who were averaging 114.8 points per game, could not find the mark in the first half, as Loyola (5-2, 1-1) jumped out to a 30-21 halftime lead.
Loyola coach Jerry Savage attributed the victory to good rebounding and a ball-control offense.
"I thought we did a good job the boards," said Savage. "We only gave them one shot. We knew we couldn't run with them, so we tried to limit our turnovers."
Lake Clifton coach Charlie Moore agreed, but also cited his team's poor shooting in the first half, when the Lakers were 9-for-32.
"Loyola did a good job, but we shot ourselves in the foot," said Moore. "We missed dunks. We missed layups. The execution in the first half was atrocious."
Jerry Hunt led the Dons, scoring 25 points and pulling down eight rebounds.
Lake Clifton guard Shawnta Rogers kept the Lakers in the game in the second half, hitting seven three-pointers and scoring a game-high 29 points.
Loyola broke Lake Clifon's press in the fourth quarter behind the ball-handling skills of Warren Parker (14 points).
Steve Kraning added 15 points for the Dons, and Wes Unseld Jr. scored 10 and had seven rebounds.
Anthony Lang added 16 points for Lake Clifton.
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LAKE CLIFTON -- Moore 2, Rogers 29, Byrd 6, Norris 8, Payne 6, Lang 16, Wright 1. Totals: 27 6-17 68.
LOYOLA -- Parker 14, Saunders 3, Henry 4, Unseld 10, Hunt 25, Kraning 15. Totals: 25 17-28 71
Lake Clifton 8 13 22 25 -- 68
Loyola 14 16 22 19 -- 71