KIRTLAND, Ohio – Lakeland Community College started the way it would have wanted but No. 9 Sinclair Community College finished the game strong and pulled out a 70-63 victory to finish the regular season Saturday afternoon.
The Lakers finished the regular season with a 15-9 record a year after finishing 5-20 in 2016-17. Lakeland ended the OCCAC season with a 7-7 record and will play in the postseason next week.
Armani Jackson just missed out on a double-double by leading Lakeland with 22 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Ziona Williams added 18 points while Delesha Jackson chipped in 16 points in the loss.
Lakeland got off to a fast start in the opening quarter as the Lakers turned a 12-12 tie with 3:37 left into a 25-17 lead at the end of the first with a 13-5 run. Armani Jackson scored nine in the first quarter to help the Lakers get ahead early on.
The offense slowed down for Lakeland in the second quarter as the Lakers made just 3-of-20 shots and was outscored by Sinclair 18-9. Lakeland trailed 35-34 at the half.
The struggled continued for Lakeland in the third quarter but a 3-pointer by Ziona Williams gave the Lakers a 44-43 lead with 5:35 left. Lakeland only scored four points the rest of the quarter as Sinclair pulled ahead 57-48 after three. Ziona Williams scored eight points in the third to pace Lakeland.
Armani Jackson got going in the fourth with nine points in the quarter and made a layup with 1:56 left to get Lakeland within 63-61. The Lakers would only score two more points the rest of the way as Sinclair held on for the seven-point victory.
Sophomores Cary Morin and Brianna Williams were honored before the game in their final regular season game for Lakeland.
For more information about Lakeland athletics, visit www.athletics.lakelandcc.edu.
About Lakeland Community College
Founded in 1967, Lakeland Community College was the first college in Ohio created by a vote of the people. True to our mission, Lakeland provides quality learning opportunities to meet the social and economic needs of the community.
Offering day, evening, weekend and online classes, the college serves more than 10,800 credit and 2,800 noncredit students (2016). For more information about the College, visit www.lakelandcc.edu.
