Boys basketball: Lakers collect their 19th win of the season   

The Lakers boys’ basketball team dominated the game against Staples-Motley on Tuesday night, going on a 17-0 run in the middle part of the first half and ending with a commanding 72-45 victory. The Lakers have been having a great campaign with a 19-2 overall record and remaining undefeated in the Midstate Conference at 5-0. Despite the one-sided final score, the Lakers started the game off cold on offense, missing several open looks. Staples-Motley had some good shooting in the early stages with Alex Schultz and Avandre Brandt. However, the Lakers’ strong defense resulted in Lakers baskets and junior Nick Buboltz jumpstarted the Lakers with a no-look steal that drew a foul and ignited the Lakers’ momentum. After the game was tied at 12-12, the Lakers outscored the Cardinals 17-4 to close out the first half. The Lakers’ offense found their groove in the second half, with Devon Berg leading the way for the Lakers, finishing the game with 25 points before fouling out with around four minutes to go. Mason Carrier also had a strong second half, finishing the game with 19 points and converting on four three-pointers. Brandton Marsh and Caden Strand combined for 18 points in the winning effort. Up next, Detroit Lakes will play Grand Rapids on Saturday night at the Lakeshirts Fieldhouse, looking to keep their seven-game winning streak alive. The loss drops Staples-Motley’s record to 11-10 overall, and they are now 1-5 in the Midstate Conference.