The Lone Tree boys played their most complete game of the season in Tuesday’s second round district game against IMS at Fairfield, taking the 50-35 win. The win avenged a pair of regular season losses to IMS. Both teams flexed their defensive muscles in the first half, IMS with their 2-3 zone and Lone Tree in man to man, leaving the game tied at 15-15 after the first quarter and 21-21 at the halftime break. In the second half the Lone Tree defense continued to wear on IMS, causing turnovers in the press and making shots difficult in the half court allowing the Lions to take a 33-28 lead into the fourth quarter. After the game Lone Tree Head Coach Tom Squiers talked about his teams defensive effort.

“I thought tonight, we played great team defense, our guys communicated really well, and I thought that was the key. I thought that we didn’t give Eli and easy look, we didn’t give Shetler an easy look, and that was kind of our game plan coming in, and then I just said, down the stretch, if we can be in it and make a run, then we have a chance,” Squires said. “Our guys bought in, they worked really hard on the three days we had to practice, and I’m really proud of how our guys played defense tonight, I think it was the best we’ve played all year.”

Trailing by five going to the fourth quarter IMS continued to struggle offensively and Lone Tree broke through the Iowa Mennonite defense with Trent Gosnell who had a game high 25, 19 of that coming in the second half including two crucial three point plays down the stretch. After the game IMS Head Coach Dwight Gingerich talked about his team’s play and the stretch run.

“I thought defensively we did a good job of taking away their cuts, flashes, staying on their shooters. [You’ve got to give credit] to Gosnell making some plays, he got in the lane, hit a couple of deep three’s. That separation, three, four, five points, maintaining that, you really have to play differently, and take chances as the game is working its way down to the end,” Gingerich said.

Aside from Gosnell’s 25 for Lone Tree, the Lions were led by Jovonte Squiers 11 points and Matt Wieland with 10. Reggie Hostetler was the lone IMS player in double figures with 15. IMS ends their season at 18-5. Lone Tree is now 16-7 on the year and will play for the district title Thursday night at Washington against Danville who knocked off Holy Trinity 66-50.