The Lakers closed out the semester by continuing their winning ways and downing the Muskegon Jayhawks by a final score of 83-77. With the win, the Lakers improved their record to 8-4 on the season. In the first half, the teams battled back and forth for the first 13 minutes as neither team was able to go on a sustained run. With the Lakers trailing by 3, Kaleb Wanamaker would hit a 3-pointer on an assist from Brandon Moore to knot the score at 29. After a Jayhawk missed shot, Moore would convert a layup. The Jayhawks would hit 1-2 free throws before Devin Belle set up Amarion Glenn for a big 3-pointer to put the Lakers up 34-30 with 5:39 to play in the half. The Jayhawks would then miss a shot before Ben Hamilton would grab an offensive reboard and score on a layup to put the Lakers up 6 points. Kaleb Wanamaker would then steal the ball before Devin Belle hit a jumper for a 38-30 Laker lead. The Jayhawks would later miss a pair of free throws before Belle made a driving layup for a 10 point Laker lead. Both teams would miss shots on successive possessions before Eric Cook made a layup for a 42-30 Laker lead with 2:35 to play in the half. The teams would continue to battle for the rest of the half with the Lakers taking a 45-37 lead into the break.

In the second half, the Lakers would slowly grow their lead early on. Lakeland led by 15 points, 59-44, just 5 minutes into the half. Over the next 3 minutes, the Jayhawks would take advantage of Laker missed shots, turnovers, and fouls to cut the Laker lead to 7 at 62-55 with 12 minutes to play. Devin Belle would then score a layup on an assist from Kaleb Wanamaker. Following a Jayhawk missed shot, Amarion Glenn would feed Brandon Moore for a layup to put the Lakers back up by 11 at 66-55. The Lakers would then miss a shot and committ a pair of turnovers over the next few minutes allowing the Jayhawks to close the gap to 3 points at 66-63. Brandon Moore would then make a layup before David McClain had a steal and fed Moore for a dunk and a 70-63 Laker lead. The Jayhawks would then score a pair of baskets around a Laker turnover to bring them with 3 points again at 70-67. Eric Cook would then connect on a 3-pointer on a Wanamaker assist to grow the Laker lead back to 6 points at 73-67 with 5:40 to play. Following a Jayhawk basket and a Laker miss, Wanamaker would steal the ball and feed Brandon Moore who converted an old-fashioned 3-point play as he was fouled. The Jayhawks would score a basket and then score again after a Laker turnover as the Lakers lead shrank to 76-73 with just over 4 minutes to play. On the Lakers next possession, Kaleb Wanamaker would feed Amarion Glenn for a clutch 3-pointer and a 79-73 Laker lead. Following a Jayhawk miss, Devin Belle would hit a jumper to grow the Lakers lead to 81-73. The Jayhawks would make a basket and then hit both free throws after a Laker foul to bring them within 4 points at 81-77 with 36 seconds to play. The Jayhawks then fouled Kaleb Wanamaker. Wanamaker calmly stepped to the line and connected on both free throws to close out the game.

The Lakers had a balanced attack as 3 players recorded double digits. Brandon Moore led all scorers with 25 points on 10-17 shooting from the floor. Moore also added 8 rebounds. Devin Belle just missed a double-double as he finished with 21 points and 9 rebounds. Kaleb Wanamaker had a strong overall game as he finished with 18 points, 6 steals, and 5 assists. Eric Cook finished with 9 points and a team high 12 rebounds while Amarion Glenn collected 8 points, 4 steals, and 3 assists. 

Next Up: The Lakers will enjoy the holiday break before playing host to the Lorain County Commodores on Wednesday (1/8) in Laker Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.