Box Score HANOVER, Indiana-- One day after defeating Manchester in a semi-final matchup the Lions took to the court to face top seeded Hanover. Despite a fantastic effort by all-tournament selection Andrew Finley (Cincinnati, OH/ Walnut Hills) the Lions would not be able to overcome a poor shooting effort. In the end The Mount would put up their season low 51 points in a 58-51 loss to the Panthers.
The game got off to a quick start as Wes Mckinney hit a step back 3-pointer on the games first possesion. The offense though would not come easy for either side in this one. For the Lions Finley got off to a quick start scoring 8 of the Lions first 10 points. They took their first lead of the game at the 14:52 mark of the first half on an Erik Edwards (Cincinnati, OH/ Roger Bacon) layup. It was a lead they would hold onto for much of the first half. As the end of the half drew near the Lions held a three point lead. But Hanover would close the half scoring the final four points, carrying a 28-27 lead into the break.
The Lions really struggled to make shots in the first half. They went 11 of 28 (39.3 percent) and 2 of 10 (20 percent) in the half. They were led offensively by Finley who scored 10 first half points, Adam Goetz (Erlanger, KY/ St. Henry) came off the bench to add 8 points for the Lions.
The teams exchanged baskets on the first three posessions of the second half. The back and forth action would continue, there were 11 lead changes over the first 14+ minutes of the second half. With 5:28 left to play Mckinney hit a fall away 3-pointer to put the Panthers ahead 48-47. The Lions would go ice cold down the stretch scoring only 4 points over the final 6:28 of game action. During the stretch they were 2 for 10 from the field and committed four turnovers.
The Lions were led by Finley who garnered all-tournament recognition for his 20 point effort in the championship.
The Lions will now sit and wait for Monday, for the Division III selection show to see if they have done enough to gain entrance into the Division III National tournament.
