Lakers Continue Hot Start at Niagara

SANBORN, NY -- Kievonn Banks scored a career-high 24 points off the bench to lead Finger Lakes to a 103-92 victory over Division II Niagara County Community College on Wednesday. The Lakers bench outscored Niagara 51-23 in the victory. Finger Lakes is now 4-0 on the season.

The game began with both teams trading baskets early. Dylan Verkey made one of his three first half three pointers to give the Lakers an early 10-5 advantage. Niagara would use hot shooting of their own, however, to go on a 10-0 run to take the lead. The Thunderwolves made nine three pointers in the half, shooting 60% from beyond the arc. Verkey would give the Lakers the lead back with a deep three. Niagara would answer and grow their lead to as many as seven in the half, but the Lakers would continue to fight and would carry a 47-46 lead at halftime. 

Both teams increased their pace in the second half as the game began to open up. The teams stayed close through the first 10 minutes. Junior Sims would hit a bank shot with eight minutes to play to give Finger Lakes a 70-68 lead. Niagara would tie the game back, but Kievonn Banks would make a driving layup and get fouled. Off of the missed foul shot, Sims got the offensive rebound and dished it in the lane to Banks. He spun through traffic and scored to give the Lakers a 74-70 advantage. Banks would continue to cause issues for the Thunderwolves. Two minutes later, he stole the ball and laid it in to give the Lakers a six point advantage with six minutes left to play. A Brandon Bullock three point play with under two minutes gave Finger Lakes a 97-90 lead on their way to the 103-92 victory.

Of Banks' 24 points, 18 came in the second half. Bullock finished the game with 20 points and nine assists. Verkey was 5-8 from three point territory and finished with 17 points. Sims and Torry Wright each recorded double-doubles. Sims had 11 points and 12 rebounds while Wright had 15 points and 11 boards. Allantae Faust rounded out the double-digit scoring with 12 points off of the bench for the Lakers.

Finger Lakes held the advantage in rebounds in the game. They had 15 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second chance points. The Lakers also outscored Niagara by 30 points in the paint, 48-18. In the second half, Finger Lakes went 14-16 from the free throw line that helped seal the game.

Finger Lakes will host a pair of Region III games this weekend. They will face Clinton Community College at 5pm on Saturday and play North Country Community College at 3pm on Sunday.