1/17/26
Bellarmine Prep Lions 75, Lakes Lancers 57
(Lakewood, WA) The Bellarmine Prep Lions and Lakes Lancers are on top of their respective divisions in the PSL. Bellarmine Prep came into the game with a 10-game win streak, while Lakes was looking to stop its three-game losing streak. Both teams are led by coaches and staff who won coach and staff of the year in their PSL divisions last year. With this being the only scheduled matchup of the season, it was a prime opportunity for one of these two teams to build off of their great starts and head for the home stretch of the regular season with momentum.
In the first quarter, Lakes started off with a pair of early baskets, including a Dominic Imperial triple to take a quick 5-0 lead. Bellarmine Prep rallied as Ben Heisel had eight first-quarter points. Lakes used balanced scoring from Dominic, Darius Imperial, and Ray Smith. Smith had six points to lead the Lancers, while Dominic had five points and Darius had three in the quarter. Bellarmine Prep didn’t lead in the first quarter, but kept things close, and the teams were tied at 16 each heading into the second quarter. It took both teams some time to find their offense, as the defenses flexed their muscles early. Birk Johnston had eight points in the second quarter by himself for Bellarmine Prep, as he matched what Lakes had as a team in the second. Bellarmine Prep outscored Lakes 18-8 in the second, and it was capped off by Luke Heisel, who had a buzzer-beating layup after the Lions had their shot blocked. Luke was in the right spot at the right time and put it in right before the horn sounded as Bellarmine Prep led 34-24 at the break.
Bellarmine Prep used the momentum they found at the end of the first half, and it carried into the second half. The Lions had their most potent quarter of the night in the third, putting up 23 points. Ben Heisel had his second eight-point quarter, while Kade Price caught fire with eight as well, after getting into foul trouble in the second quarter. Price had a buzzer-beating lay-in to give the Lions a 57-36 lead after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, Lakes had their best quarter, with 21 points, as Darius Imperial had 11 in the quarter. Unfortunately for the Lancers, Bellarmine Prep had 18 in the final frame and kept the Lancers at an arm’s length away to run out to a 75-57 victory.
The Sumner Holiday Inn Express Game MVP went to Bellarmine Prep’s Ben Heisel, who dropped 21 points and cashed in four times from three-point land. Heisel also played terrific defense, using his frame to alter shots and deflect passes to stymie the Lakes offense.
Bellarmine Prep was also led by Kade Price and Birk Johnston, who each had 11 points. Ronnie Wiggins had 10 points, Luke Heisel finished with six points, Ca’ron Dotson had five points, Elliott Stevenson and Donovyn Frazier each had four points, and Hudson Bronder had three points.
Lakes had good performances from Darius Imperial, who tied Ben Heisel with a game-high 21 points, including a pair of triples. Dominic Imperial had 11 points, including three three-pointers. Ray Smith had eight points, Virgil Tucker had seven points, Jayson Adams had four points, Raziah Patterson had three points, Andrew Knight had two points, and Julian Vanek had one point.
Bellarmine Prep is now 11-2 and won all 11 games in a row. The Lions stay perfect in PSL play at 7-0 and will face North Thurston on Tuesday.
Lakes drops to 9-5 on the season and 6-4 in the PSL. The Lancers will look to bounce back at Silas on Tuesday.
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Game Highlights
Bellarmine Prep’s Luke Heisel Beats The Halftime Buzzer
Virgil Tucker With Sensational Hustle To Set Up Dominic Imperial For Three
Game MVP Ben Heisel Cans His Third First-Half Three
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