De La Cruz’s Free Throws and Lakers Defense Lead FLCC to One-Point Win
CANANDAIGUA – Finger Lakes, behind a stellar team-wide defensive stand late in the second half of Sunday's meeting with the Clinton CC Cougars, snuck a 53-52 home win into its win-loss column – in what was a nail-biter of a game.
Trailing 52-51 with 1:19 remaining on the game clock, the Lakers best free throw shooter in Richard De La Cruz – stood at the foul line anticipating a pair of crucial free throws to come. The 88% free throw shooter, looking calm and collective, buried both shots to put the hosts ahead 53-52.
After De La Cruz made good on what would turn out to be the game winning free throws, Finger Lakes defense turned up its intensity on the hardwood. Clinton, with the ball in its possession, looked to regain the lead after De La Cruz's free throws. The Cougars, citing solid team defense out of the Lakers, couldn't convert offensively after squandering their 52-51 lead. Finger Lakes, as the result of a shot clock violation, would force Clinton to cough up the ball with just 42.5 seconds remaining on the game clock.
After the Cougars turned the ball over with 42.5 seconds left in the second half, the Lakers and Clinton would then exchange one more possession each before time expired in the contest.
De La Cruz, for the second consecutive game, would lead the Lakers in scoring with 21 points. His point total, which was a game-high, came via a 7-18 shooting day from the field. In 31 minutes worth of court time, the six-foot-two inch sophomore shot 3-8 from three and was 4-4 from the charity stripe.
The Lakers held a 32-25 halftime lead in Sunday's game. The Cougars, who hung around in the entire 40 minutes of the contest, took the second half – 27-21 – before falling by one point.
Finger Lakes, shooting wise, shot just 35% from the field as a team. Clinton, as a squad, shot just 32% from the floor. Both teams, however, shot particularly well from beyond the arc. The Lakers and Cougars shot 40% (6-15) and 39% (7-18) respectively from three. De La Cruz's 3 three-pointers were matched by Clinton's Jamie Davison. Davison, on the day, was 3-7 from beyond the perimeter.
Finger Lakes, in the rebounding department, was led by Sean Carbonell's 9 boards. As a team, the Lakers tallied 33 rebounds. The sophomore forward, who played in 31 minutes, matched his 9 rebounds with 9 points. The Cougars, collectively, totaled 37 rebounds. They were paced by Dennies Krecko's game-high 11 rebounds. Krecko, in addition to his double-digit rebounds, scored a team-high 14 points.
Following Carbonell's 9 points for the Lakers was Ben Wilburn. The guard supplied Finger Lakes with 8 points in 17 minutes off of the bench.
Dominique Higgins and Kaleem Edwards shared game-high assist honors. Both Laker players administered 3 assists apiece on the afternoon.
Finger Lakes backed up its solid defense with 16 team steals. Carbonell paced the Lakers in this department with 4 steals. Wilburn, Higgins, and Will Arberry – each added 3 steals apiece for Finger Lakes.
Davison, coinciding with his 3 three's, scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high 6 steals for Clinton. Krecko, who stands in at 6-foot-9, came close to notching a triple-double. To garnish off his 14 points and 11 rebounds, the tall center put claim to a game-high 8 blocks.
Finger Lakes will now turn its attention to its next opponent – the Onondaga CC Lazers. The Lakers will host the Lazers at home this Wednesday (1/23) in an MSAC pairing. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m.