Bulldogs drop NIC home game

Published 2:42 pm Saturday, January 11, 2014

Granger Kingland of Lake Mills looks to make an entry pass into the paint Friday against Garner-Hayfield/Ventura. Kingland led the Bulldogs with 21 points. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

LAKE MILLS — Despite having four players score in double figures, the Lake Mills boys’ basketball team lost 73-69 against Garner-Hayfield/Ventura Friday at home.

The Bulldogs were led by the Kingland brothers: Hunter and Granger. Granger scored a team-high 21 points with a game-high five 3-pointers. Hunter snagged a team-high seven rebounds and added 19 points with three 3-pointers.

Hunter Kingland of Lake Mills shoots from beyond the arc in the first quarter Friday against Garner-Hayfield/Ventura. Kingland scored 19 points with three 3-pointers and snagged a team-high seven rebounds. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Mateo Peña of Lake Mills scored 13 points, and Paul Pins added 10.

“It was a very well-played game by both teams,” said Bulldogs head coach Kyle Menke. “We shot the ball well but didn’t get the defensive stops when we needed them.”

Joel Toppin of Garner-Hayfield/Ventura scored a game-high 22 points and Braden Meints added 20.

The Bulldogs trailed by two points at the end of the first quarter and by three points at halftime, 37-34.

Garner-Hayfield/Ventura outscored Lake Mills by two points in the third quarter, and although the Bulldogs outscored the Cardinals 21-20 in the fourth, their rally fell short.

Garner-Hayfield had almost three times as many attempts from the free-throw line. Lake Mills was 7 of 9, and Garner-Hayfield/Ventura was 18 of 24.

Next, the Bulldogs (7-2 overall, 3-2 North Iowa Conference) will host Osage at 7:45 p.m., Tuesday.