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4th-quarter surge lifts LaBrae over Howland

Tribune Chronicle / Jamie Trina Howland’s Gage Tomko, right, tries to get past Elijah Whiteside of LaBrae Friday in the Vikings’ 59-44 win over the Tigers.

HOWLAND — LaBrae saved its best for last Friday night. After outscoring Howland 17-9 in the fourth quarter, the Vikings were finally able to put away the Tigers, 59-44.

“I thought we were able to get some stops and play a little bit better defense,” LaBrae coach Chad Kiser said. “We rebounded the ball and we were able to move in transition. We attacked and we didn’t over-dribble.”

LaBrae and Howland continued to battle throughout the first half. Neither team was able to pull away, and after going in at halftime with a slim 31-28 lead, LaBrae (2-0) needed to make some adjustments.

“I thought a few times in the first half when we got the ball, we did too much dribbling, when we can pass ahead or have the extra guy,” Kiser said. “We had to go one-on-one instead of taking advantage of the two-on-one.”

No matter the matchup, LaBrae’s Tyler Stephens was in command. As the tallest player on the floor at 6-6, the big man took control in the fourth quarter. He scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the final quarter, and added his efforts to the defensive side of the ball as well.

Tribune Chronicle / Jamie Trina LaBrae’s Justin Rutherford (14) attempts to pass the ball as Howland defenders Nathan Barrett (40) and Justin Jones (32) surround the Vikings’ Tyler Stephens.

“I just rely on my teammates,” Stephens said. “My teammates give me everything in the world, so I just try to return it back with a favor. I just try to do everything through them, and I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Howland (0-3) kept pace in the first half with the efforts of Nathan Barrett. He had 10 of his team-high 18 points in the first half. Cameron Durig added 11 points for the Tigers during the contest.

LaBrae’s struggles to take control was both offensive and defensive.

“It was execution,” Stephens said. “We weren’t in our game. It wasn’t our best game. After we slowed down, we knew we had the athletes.”

As the defense continued to battle, the offense had to step up going into the second half.

Tribune Chronicle / Jamie Trina Howland coach Dan Bubon reacts during the Tigers' 59-44 loss to LaBrae Friday night.

“I think the team just executed,” Stephens said. “The biggest thing was, we just slowed down the game. Coach just told us, we run our offense and get guys open we will be fine.”

Sometimes it’s not how you start, but it is how you finish. The Vikings finished strong for the victory despite several of the players being ill.

“Some of us are not feeling well right now, but we stuck together as brothers, and we just got it done,” Stephens said.

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