Lone Tree sauntered on to its home court to face Wapello in what is slated to be its last conference game of the season, but instead of wearing its traditional school colors of black and yellow the Lions were garbed in dark forest green jerseys. 

Wearing green uniforms for Lone Tree’s 12th annual Green Out game to raise money for organ donation the Lions were able to win a nail-biter, 54-52, over the Arrows on February 2. 

This game did not start with the usual tip-off between the teams, instead it began with two technical foul free throws being awarded to Wapello. 

Due to rules and regulations because the Lions were not wearing jerseys that displayed its school colors the opposing team would start the game with two shots from the free throw line. 

Even though Wapello as a team had no issue with the color of Lone Tree’s uniforms the Lions were still issued a technical foul and the free throws would have to be attempted. 

Obviously displeased with this ruling the player for Wapello who was chosen to take the shots would intentionally miss both free throws, chucking the ball at the backboard twice, which caused the crowd to cheer in delight for the sportsmanship Wapello displayed.

Ironically enough, the first points of this game were scored from the free throw line, but those points came from Lone Tree freshman point guard Emmett Burke, after he was fouled in the act of shooting.

In a tight first quarter, that would prove to be a preview for what the rest of the game would be like, Lone Tree sophomore guard Ethan Bockelman ended the quarter by connecting on a three point shot and then proceeded to score a layup on a fast break, giving the Lions a 11-8 lead after one. 

Not letting up after finishing the last quarter on a positive scoring note, Lone Tree went on a 9-3 run to kick off the second quarter. Not ready to give up quite yet, the Arrows would respond with a 8-1 run to end the quarter to outscore the Lions, 11-10, in the quarter before halftime. 

Once halftime ended Lone Tree found its two-point lead vanished right away after a successful field goal from Wapello, tying the game at 21 a piece. On the brink of giving up the lead for the first time since the first quarter, the Lions responded with a three-pointer, courtesy of Bockelman, and this was followed by another three-pointer, courtesy of Burke.

Those quick six points by Lone Tree made Wapello take a time out so they could regroup and hopefully slow down the momentum the Lions were gathering. 

This quarter ended up being Lone Tree’s highest scoring quarter with 22 points, but with Wapello scoring 19 to only give the Lions a five point lead, it set up for an exciting final quarter.   

Lone Tree started the scoring in the final frame of the game with a three-pointer from Bockelman, much to the jubilation of the home crowd. 

Not phased, the Arrows would then rattle off six consecutive points to pull within two, and this time it was the Lions turn to take a time out to calm the momentum Wapello was accumulating. 

After the timeout Lone Tree was able to build its lead to six points, 53-47, but after a three-pointer from the Arrows it turned into a one possession game with little time left. 

With chances to put the game out of reach two Lone Tree players missed a shot from the free throw line and after a quick bucket from Wapello it became a one-point game, 53-52.

Trailing by a single point Wapello had the ball and were looking for the comeback win, but in the process of trying to score they committed an offensive foul, causing the crowd to roar with joy, giving free throws to Lone Tree.

With a chance to give the Lions a more comfortable lead, senior guard Ethan Willoz stepped up to the free throw line and made his first shot. 

Willoz’s second shot rattled in and out and the Arrows rebounded the ball. 

With little time left Wapello shot the ball from a great distance in a last second desperation heave, but the shot missed and the buzzer blared, giving the the Lions donned in green a win, putting an end to a four-game losing streak.  

This win gives Lone Tree a 4-11 record in conference play and boosts its regular season record to 7-13.

GAME STATS

Lone Tree 54, Wapello 52

Lone Tree 11      10       22      11    --  54

Wapello             8     11        19        14    --  52

WAPELLO SCORING: Jackson Lanz 33,Tyler Palmer 8, Casey Short 7

WAPELLO REBOUNDING LEADERS: Lanz 16, Carson Belzer 6, Palmer 5

Lone Tree 28, WACO 66

The Lions went on the road with the daunting challenge of trying to take down the undefeated super conference leading Warriors. Thanks to a stout defense and consistent scoring WACO was able to continue its winning ways with a 66-28 victory over Lone Tree on January 31.

The game started out promising for the Lions. Taking a 4-0 lead to begin the first quarter Lone Tree played fast. Responding with a 4-0 run of its own, WACO was able to tie the game. 

Lone Tree responded with a three-pointer from Drew Gauley to put the Lions back in the lead. After scoring two straight close range baskets the Warriors would obtain its first lead of the game, 8-7, and they would hold onto that lead for the rest of the game. 

The rest of the first quarter belonged to the Warriors and its impressive defensive display. Blocking and stealing shots leading to great offensive looks WACO was able to end the first quarter with a 25-12 lead. 

At halftime the Lions trailed by 25 and any hope for a come from behind victory was squashed by WACO’s defense, which held Lone Tree to three points in the third quarter courtesy of Jack Buser’s three-pointer. 

With the game all but over, the fourth quarter saw Hillcrest freshman Reece Holbrook score all five of the Ravens’ points in the final frame with a shot from three point range and sinking in two free throws. 

Lone Tree (7-13) were on the road when they faced Winfield-Mt Union (16-4) on February 7. This was the second time this season these teams battled each other with WMU winning the first contest 58-23 on January 6. 

GAME STATS

Lone Tree       12      8       3      5    --  28

WACO             25     20        14        7    --  66

LONE TREE SCORING: Drew Gauley 6, Reece Holbrook 5, Emett Burke 4, Tyce Alt 4

WACO SCORING: Hunter Hughes 15, Cody Graber 11, Colton Leichty 9

LONE TREE REBOUNDING: Mitch Koedam 5, Jack Buser 4, Ethan Bockelman 3, Alt 3