Aug. 4, 2008 — The Lakers pulled out a hard-fought 80-73 win Saturday against the Chosen Ones to even their best of three playoff series and force a decisive third game Monday in the Choices Basketball Association summer league playoffs.
The Lakers had been embarrassed one night earlier by the top-seeded Chosen Ones, but as the only team to beat them this season, the Lakers knew that they still had a good chance of evening the series. And even it they did, coming back from as many as 15 points down in the first half at the St. Croix Central High School gym.
Asked how his team was able to respond so well after the previous night’s defeat, Lakers coach Danley Peterson said, “I know we were way better than what we showed last night. I knew if we came out tonight, take care of the ball and show a lot of heart everything will take care of itself.
"But I have to give it to both teams. They left everything they had out there tonight.”
After a closely played first quarter, the Chosen Ones turned up the defense in the second quarter, limiting the Lakers offensively while building their biggest lead of the game. A one-point lead quickly turned into 10 midway through the second period at 37-27. A steal and a three pointer by Zomari Swanston and the lead had ballooned to 15 with the first half winding down.
The Lakers could have easily thrown in the towel but instead showed some of the heart their coach referred to, responding with a 6-0 run to go into the locker down nine at the half at 42-33.
That momentum carried into the second half with good defense and better shooting that enabled the Lakers to control the third period. They tied the game at 59 on a turnaround jumper by Raol Ceasar as time ran out on the third quarter. Robert Duck and Jerome Nathaniel both netted seven points in the quarter for the Lakers.
The Chosen Ones pushed ahead in the fourth quarter to take a 68-63 lead with 5:44 left in the game. The Lakers again responded, this time with a 7-1 run that gave them their first lead since the first quarter at 70-69 on a jumper by Jonathan Fontanelle.
They would go on to outscore the Chosen Ones 10-4 down the stretch to even the playoff series at one game a piece with an 80-73 victory.
Robert Duck led three Lakers in double figures with a game-high 21 points, Rondel Harris dropped in 16 and Shane Hodge dropped in 14. For the Chosen Ones, it was Wilson Ferrance leading four players in double figures with 16 points. Andy Chelcher netted 14 and Joey Wallace and Glenroy Coggins finished with 12 and 11 points respectively.
