Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Matt Lenz looks to get the ball past Ewen-Trout Creek’s Caden Besonen during a game Thursday at the Lake Linden-Hubbell Gym. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

LAKE LINDEN — The Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes boys basketball team showed their strength on the boards and around the key as they muscled their way to a 58-46 win on Thursday over the visiting Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers.

Lakes coach Brett Poissant credited strong play in the second and fourth periods as the key to his team’s victory.

With the score 17-7, the Lakes were down by 10 to start the second. However, they outscored the Panthers 20-12 to make it just a two-point contest in favor of Ewen as the teams headed to halftime.

“In the second and the fourth, we took care of business,” said Poissant. “We rebounded. We were efficient and didn’t turn the ball over, and we scored. I told them at the half that the momentum is on our side. We just had a big second to get back within two. Let’s keep going.”

The Lakes’ (5-2) Gabe Popko opened the third quarter with a three-point play. He put one off the glass while being fouled to tie the game at 29. He then sunk his free throw to put Lakes up 30-29. It was a lead that they would not relinquish.

While Popko led the scoring for Lake Linden with 24 points and Matt Lenz followed with 17. Poissant noted that the unsung heroes of this game were the Lakes’ sole senior Hunter Moyle and junior Mason Holzberger.

“They are in there night after night doing the dirty work, grabbing rebounds and setting up Popko and Lenz to work their magic,” he said.

The Lakes led 40-38 to start the fourth. They continued to control the game as the clock wound down. A two-point lead turned into a seven-point Lake Linden advantage, 49-42, with around three minutes to go.

Popko and Lenz continued to be the Lakes’ special forces. Lenz was unstoppable with his outside shot. He had five triples in the contest. Popko was fearless with his drive to the hoop and strong rebounding.

“We broke down and lost Lenz as we gave him too many open shots,” said Panthers’ coach Brad Besonen. “We didn’t communicate well, and he started to roll. Gabe was Gabe. We just didn’t get it done tonight.”

Austin Gordon led the scoring for the Panthers with 22 points.

Up next

The Lakes head to Ontonagon to take on the Gladiators on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Scoring

ETC 17 12 9 8 – 46

LLH 7 20 13 18 – 58

ETC – Ca. Besonen 7, Pietila 2, Gordon 22, Ch. Besonen 8, Legault 5, Dersnah 4.

LLH – Daavettila 3, Davis 4, Jokela 2, Holzberger 7, Popko 24, Lenz 17.