Lakers Pick Up First Win of the Season
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. - The Finger Lakes Community College Men's Basketball team picked up their first win of the season, beating the Saints of North Country Community College 72-68. With the win, the Lakers get their first win of the season and improve to 1-2. The Lakers tie the series 3-3 in their last 6 games, winning two in row against the Saints.
The Lakers faced adversity in the 1st-half, facing a 24-10 deficit early. The Lakers fought back to bring their deficit to 3 going into the break, with the Saints leading 31-28. The Lakers fough off a tough Saints squad who brought pressure with a full-court press for the majority of the game. Despite struggles from the starting 5, the Lakers bench came up in the clutch; accounting for 68% of the Lakers points in the game.
Lakers Freshman Devon Payton (Rochester, N.Y./ Gates Chili) led the charge for the Lakers off the bench. Payton went 7-11 from the 3-point line, dropping 27 points on the afternoon. Payton's defensive play was as equally impressive, snagging 4 steals on the afternoon. Payton's 7 threes were 6th most all-time in a game for the Lakers, proving himself a perimter threat for the Lakers going forward.
Freshman Javonte Williams (Rochester, N.Y./ Rush Henrietta) scored 12 points for the Lakers, while dropping 2 assists. On the defensive end, Williams picked up 2 blocked shots and pulled down 3 defensive rebounds. Freshman CJ James (Victor, N.Y./ Victor) played an all-around game for the Lakers, proving to be a versatile player, with James scoring 7 points, 2 assists and 2 offensive rebounds and on defense pulling down 6 rebounds, grabbing 2 steals and blocking 3 shots.
Lakers center Alejandro Cassitello (Manhattan, N.Y./ DME Academy) had 4 points for the team while dropping 4 assists and pulling down 2 offensive rebounds, on defense Cassitello pulled down 9 rebounds to lead the team.
The Lakers big win gives them their first win of the season as they look ahead to their next opponent. The Lakers squad looks to finally be meshing as a cohesive squad looking to play for each other going forward. The Lakers end their 4-game home stretch on Wednesday, November 10th when SUNY ESF comes to the Putt Moore Gymnasium for a 7 P.M. matchup.