Loogootee Jr-Sr High School

In the annual Thursday night classic, during Sectional week, the Loogootee Lions locked up with the Orleans Bulldogs at Jack Butcher Arena. This series has provided some classic games over the year. The Lions dropped both games last night, as the JV lost 49-46 and the varsity dropped their contest 51-40. The Varsity Lions were playing without three starters. Junior Will Lyon sat with a leg injury; Senior Christian Garcia was out with an ankle sprain; and sophomore Rhett Whitney, who was scheduled to start in Garcia's spot rolled his ankle in practice on Wednesday night and was also unable to play. "We have been dropping like flies," said Coach Thompson. "All three of those guys are tough kids. If they could have been out there on the floor they would have been," he continued. "I was proud of our effort and I thought that we had two guys (Freshman Gabe Walton and Junior Noah Hager) who really stepped up for us. Neither one of those guys plays with any fear and they got some very valuable experience against a very good team," said Thompson. The Lions had a very solid first quarter and led 10-7 at the first stop. The Bulldogs had a good second quarter and led 20-19 at the break. The Bulldogs picked up the pressure in the 3rd quarter and outscored the Lions 16-6. Both teams scored 15 points in the final stanza. "The third quarter is what got us. We were very stagnant offensively and then when we had chances to capitalize against their pressure, we didn't do it," said Thompson. "You can say all you want about we did this and that, but the bottom line is we lost it in the 3rd quarter. I'm proud of our guys, but we have to do a better job than what we did in the 3rd quarter," he continued. Sophomore guard Cooper VanHoy had a season and career-high 20 points. "That was good to see Coop step up there. He shot the three well tonight. We have talked all week about how guys have to step up and make baskets to take some of the heat off of AJ. With guys out we had to have him step up," said Thompson. Cooper VanHoy led the Lions with 20 points. AJ Foster had 8. Noah Hager had 6. Gabe Walton had 4 and Seth Salmon added a basket. Salmon and Foster led the Lions on the boards with 6 apiece. The Lions return to action on Tuesday night when they host South Knox in a big Blue Chip Conference game at Jack Butcher Arena. This game was postponed from earlier in the season due to weather conditions.