After getting off to the best 19-game start since the 2011-12 season, Lakeview Academy tied that year’s 20-game record of 16-4 Tuesday with a 65-48 win over Hebron Christian Academy.
The win pushed Lakeview to 8-0 in Region 8-A and broke a two-way tie for first place, which it shared with Hebron (14-5, 6-1).
The result dropped Hebron into second place alone.
Despite picking up the 17-point win Tuesday, coach Todd Cottrell said he’s still not looking forward to having to play the Lions again in the last game of the season.
“No,” Cottrell said with a laugh. “They’re really good. Will (Cantrell) does a great job coaching them and they’re really hard to beat down there. They’ve had our number and for us to play well enough to win tonight was huge for us.”
Lakeview was able to pick up the win behind sophomore guard Drew Cottrell.
Drew opened up the game with a pair of 3-pointers for six points in the first half.
In the third quarter, he knocked home four more long-range jumpers. He added another trey in the fourth quarter and converted both of his opportunities from the foul line to total 23 points in the game.
His seven 3-pointers is a personal best, and he waited until his team was eyeing a solo spot at the top of the region standings to post it.
“It’s a great team we’re on,” Coach Cottrell said. “They share the ball really well and tonight (Drew) was on and they found him. (Any other night) it might be somebody else. That’s the way this team has done all year, but he shot the ball well tonight and our guys found him.”
Heading into the third quarter, Lakeview held a nine-point lead, 26-17.
Cottrell’s Lions pushed out to a 15-point lead after the third and continued to push until they held a 20-point favor.
Still, Hebron wouldn’t go away.
Luke Crawford, who tied Drew Cottrell’s 23 points for a game-high mark, scored 11 points in the final period of play. The senior hit three 3-pointers in the quarter.
Kobe Wharton (12 points) scored eight points in the period helping Crawford total the team’s 19 points.
While Drew Cottrell was a big piece of the Lakeview offense, Tre Gober and Carter Reeves also reached double-digits, with both scoring 10.
Reeves had seven rebounds at halftime, but due to foul trouble, was not able to complete his double-double efforts.
“He’s been real consistent with 10 (points) and 10 (rebounds) for the second half of the season, so far,” Coach Cottrell said. “He’s huge for us. We try to go to him a lot.”
Josh Randolph posted nine points and six rebounds in the contest.
“Josh Randolph was fantastic inside tonight and Tre is such a good driver and slasher,” Cottrell said. “It opens a lot of stuff up.”
With the victory, Lakeview broke a drought that spanned back to Feb. 18, 2014, which is the last time the Lions have defeated Hebron. That game was in the region tournament and also was the end of Cottrell’s first season at the helm.
“They’re fun to play against, but hard to beat,” Cottrell said.
Next up, Lakeview will travel to Athens Academy to face the Spartans Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY GIRLS 71, HEBRON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 24: Hebron (1-17, 0-7 8-A) won the tip Tuesday night before having the ball stolen on the first pass by Lakeview’s (14-6, 7-1) Hanna Grogan for a layup.
Hebron came back down the floor for the first lead change of the contest as Alyssa Elliott hit a 3-pointer. The last lead change of the game happened on the next trip down the floor for Lakeview as Halee Cash made a layup.
Including Cash’s layup, Lakeview went on a 17-0 run to take a 19-3 lead before Hebron scored again.
Lakeview never slowed down as they coasted to victory. Grogan finished with a game-high 18 points and four steals.
Sadie Thrailkill had five rebounds to complement her nine points at the halftime break.
She pulled down a rebound to start the second half and collected two more to finish with eight rebounds and 12 points.
Elliott finished the game with 12 points, a high for Hebron.
Lakeview will travel to Athens Saturday for a 4 p.m. tip against Athens Academy.