Boys hoops: Interlake defeats Eastlake in close battle
On Friday night, Eastlake lost 63-57 to the Interlake Saints in a tight and valiant fight.
Interlake established their scoring presence in the paint early. The Saints’ Chase Campbell scored three layups in the paint, drawing in the defense to open up the floor for his teammates. Brady Didrickson was able to grab two rebounds for Interlake, and they held possession for most of the first quarter. While Eastlake came out with some pressure from Owen Eason, it simply was not enough for Eastlake to regain the lead. Interlake held a slight edge, ending the first quarter 16-11.
Interlake’s hunger for points continued in the second quarter. Justin Hudacsko and Anakin Lin were able to move the ball around the court effectively, capitalizing on opportunities for inside and mid-range scoring, contributing another four points. Eastlake’s Rohan Kalra fired back in an attempt to keep Eastlake in the game, hitting two 3-point shots for the Wolves. Gabriel Prock also scored three layups. The Saints remained steady, finishing baskets when needed despite Eastlake’s push in transition. Interlake continued to hold a small lead of 27-23 by halftime.
Eastlake began to push the pace after the break. Kalra and Payton Goldie were able to create opportunities for two 3-pointers to add six points on the board, and the Wolves also scored three baskets in the paint to cut Interlake’s lead. Interlake responded with Campbell and Didrickson scoring three layups collectively. Although the Saints struggled to hold off the Wolves as they turned up their defensive intensity, Interlake absorbed the pressure enough to hold onto their lead going into fourth quarter 45-43.
Interlake was able to maintain their lead through the final buzzer by playing aggressively and finishing their close-range shots. Campbell and Didrickson continued to score inside for the Saints, while Hudacsko and Lin continued to hold possession of the ball and maximize their offensive possessions, boosting the Saints to a 63-49 lead. Eastlake, on the other hand, tried their best to stay in the game. Goldie was able to drive to the basket for a layup, while Kalra and Nathan D’Souza each hit a three-pointer respectively. Despite Eastlake’s efforts, the consistent scoring and pace of Interlake was too difficult to stop, resulting in a 63-57 loss for the Wolves.
