Indian Lake’s boys basketball team made a long drive to northeast Ohio on Saturday afternoon to face Norwayne in the Battle at Berkey at Smithville High School, with the Lakers pulling out a dramatic victory.
Standout junior guard Caiden Nicol hit a shot with two seconds remaining to lift the Lakers to a 68-67 victory over the Bobcats, who are ranked 14th in the Division III state poll.
The Lakers are now 9-9 on the season.
It was only the second loss of the season for Norwayne, which is 14-2.
Nicol poured in a game-high 36 points in the victory. Camdon Tuttle also had a big game with 22 points.
Avery Pequignot chipped in five points for the Lakers.
Indian Lake trailed by one point (20-19) after the first quarter and the Lakers were down by five (41-36) at halftime.
Norwayne held a nine-point cushion (60-51) after three quarters, but Indian Lake mounted a furious comeback in the final period, capped by Nicol’s clutch bucket in the closing seconds.
Indian Lake outscored the Bobcats 17-7 in the fourth quarter.
Indian Lake is back in action Tuesday at home against Benjamin Logan.
Indian Lake 68, NORWAYNE 67
Indian Lake (9-9)
Nicol 14 8-10 36; Pequignot 2 1-2 5; Tucci 1 0-0 3; Tuttle 8 0-0 22; Murphy 1 0-0 2. Totals: 26 9-12 68.
NORWAYNE (14-2)
Hann 2 1-2 5; Bayless 3 0-0 6; Polen 3 3-4 11; West 5 1-3 14; Rupp 5 5-6 16; Graham 0 2-2 2; Malbach 1 1-2 3; Metzger 2 5-8 10. Totals 20 14-19 67.
Lakers 19 17 15 17 — 68
Bobcats 19 17 15 17 — 67
Three pointers: Indian Lake 7 (Tuttle 6, Tucci); Norwayne 6 (West 3, Polen 2, Rupp). Team fouls: Indian Lake 18; Norwayne 13.