Indian Lake’s boys basketball team dropped a heartbreaker Friday 67-65 in overtime to visiting North Union in a Central Buckeye Conference contest.
The Lakers drop to 11-11 overall and 8-2 in the CBC. North Union improves to 10-11 overall, 5-5.
Despite the loss, the Lakers had already clinched a share of the CBC Mad River Division title.
Friday’s game was close from the opening tip, as the teams exchanged leads throughout.
The Lakers took a 19-17 lead after the first quarter on the strength of a trio of three-pointers from Camdon Tuttle.
Indian Lake grew its lead to as many as six in the second quarter before the Wildcats clawed back. North Union connected on a three-point basket in the waning seconds of the second quarter to pull ahead and take a 33-31 lead into halftime.
Caiden Nicol took over in the second half for Indian Lake, leading the charge as the Lakers outscored North Union 14-9 to take a three-point lead, 45-42, entering the fourth quarter.
Nicol scored 42 points, including 29 in the second half.
North Union fought back again, however, outscoring Indian Lake 16-13 over the final stanza to tie the score at 58-58 at the end of regulation and force overtime.
The Wildcats edged Indian Lake in the extra period 9-7 to secure the narrow victory.
Nicol accounted for all of Indian Lake’s points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Tuttle finished with 13 points for Indian Lake.
Miles Hall scored 25 points to lead North Union, including hitting five three pointers.
The Lakers won the JV game 49-38. Cooper Hall scored 18 points to lead the Lakers reserves.
Indian Lake is back in action Tuesday in a Division III sectional tournament game against Carlisle that begins at 5:30 p.m. at Vandalia-Butler.
NORTH UNION 67 INDIAN LAKE 65
NORTH UNION (10-11, 5-5)
Hall 9 2-4 25; Krebehenne 5 3-3 15; Parish 5 2-2 14; Draper 2 0-0 6; Bolander 1 2-2 4; Lassiter 1 0-0 3; Totals: 23 9-11 67.
INDIAN LAKE (11-11 8-2)
Nicol 14 11-13 42; Tuttle 4 2-2 13; Hall 2 0-0 4; Murphy 2 0-1 4 Morrison 1 0-0 2; Totals: 23 11-14 65
Wildcats. 17 16 9 16 9 — 67
Lakers. 19 12 14 13 7 — 65
Three pointers: North Union 12 (Hall 5, Krebehenne 2, Parish 2, Draper 2, Lassiter); Indian Lake 6 (Tuttle 3, Nicol 3) Team fouls: North Union 14, Indian Lake 12.