Mason holds off Lansing Everett in district opener
· Yahoo Sports
MASON, Mich. (WLNS) – Mason watched a seven-point lead slip away late, but regained its composure in the final seconds to defeat Lansing Everett 64-61 on Monday night.
The Bulldogs were ahead 58-51 with 2:15 to play when a missed dunk attempt led to a lay-up by Lansing Everett’s Javari Funches. Funches was also fouled on the play and made the free throw to make it a four point game.
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With 1:25 to play, Funches came up with a steal and raced to the other end for another lay-in to make it 58-56.
Mason attempted another quick shot on the next possession, missing a lay-up with a minute to go. On the ensuing Everett possession, Funches earned another and-one opportunity and made the free throw to put the Vikings in front 59-58.
Funches led all scorers with 24 points in the game. The entire 8-0 run to take the lead took less than a minute and a half off the game clock.
However, Mason gathered itself after losing the lead. The teams traded free throws on their next offensive possessions, and with 25 seconds left, Mason freshman Layken Johnson attacked the rim and made a lay-in through contact to put the Bulldogs back in front 62-61.
Johnson would miss the ensuing free throw but Mason sophomore Gavin Greathouse came up with the loose rebound.
Forced to foul, Lansing Everett sent Goss to the line and he made a pair of free throws to push the lead to 64-61.
With one final possession to try and tie it, the Vikings missed a pair of three-point shots and Mason celebrated the hard-earned victory.
“Our kids played really, really hard,” said Mason head coach Chris Bondsteel. “We put on a clinic on how to not finish a game off, but we’re going to learn about that, and we’re going to learn at it tomorrow at practice. I’m really excited for that.”
Johnson led a balanced Mason scoring attack with 17 points.
“He’s been our rock all year,” said Bondsteel of his freshman point guard. “We’ve put him in some situations that freshmen don’t necessarily need to be put into and he’s handled himself pretty well, so big things to come for Mr. Johnson.”
Mason improves to 13-10 this season and advances to face Jackson in the district semifinals on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Mason High School.
Jackson Northwest will face Holt in the other district semifinal on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mason.
Lansing Everett finishes its season with an 8-15 record.
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