Lakers Suffer Road Loss to MCC in Season Opener
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Lakers opened the season at Monroe Community College for a Region III matchup with the Tribunes. The Lakers struggled early, with the Tribunes jumping out to a 7-0 lead to start the game. The Lakers would trail by only 12 heading into the break, but several attempts to narrow the lead were thwarted by the Tribunes in the second half, and the Lakers would fall short in the season-opener, 90-61.
Freshman Michael Morgan (Rochester, N.Y./ Edison Tech) was the leading scorer for the Lakers with 14 points on the night. Morgan would pull down 5 rebounds, dish out an assist, and swipe 3 steals as well. Freshman Alex Hill (Rochester, N.Y./ Fairport) dropped in 8 points to go along with his 1 rebound and 2 assists on the night.
Sophomore Jevonte Williams (Rochester, N.Y./ Rush Henrietta) played 36 minutes and would finish with 5 points, a rebound, an assist, and 2 steals. Freshman Bruce Wilder Jr. (Rochester, N.Y./ Fairport) earned the start, picking up 5 points and 4 rebounds. Starters Juan Navedo (New Britain, C.T./ Cornerstone Charter Academy) and DaVaughn Forte (Alexandria, V.A./ T.C. Williams) picked up 7 and 5 points respectively. Navedo would dish out an assist and Forte would pull in 2 rebounds and a steal to conclude their contributions.
Freshman teammates Pacey Hopkins (Avoca, N.Y./ Avoca) and Arona Mane (Bronx, N.Y./ William Grady) each saw 18 minutes off the bench, with Hopkins picking up 5 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal and Mane dropping 4 points, to go along with 6 rebounds. Sophomores Danny Amador (Naples, F.L./ Palmetto Ridge) and Paxton Creek (Kalgoorie, Australia/ Eastern Goldfields) each saw time on the floor against the Tribunes. Amador would finish the night with 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and a steal, while Creek would pull in 2 rebounds.
Despite the loss, the Lakers will draw some positives from the matchup and use that as motivation in their next game at home against the Cardinals of St. John Fisher University (JV) on Tuesday, November 8th at 6 PM.