Emma Buee/MDN The Bishop Ryan Lions’ Jett Lundeen (31) is guarded by the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers Colton Feller (2). Feller tries to block the pass Lundeen is trying to complete Tuesday, January 14, at the Lions Den.

The Bishop Ryan Lions boys basketball team, ranked number two in the state for division B, showed that bigger isn’t always better when they beat longtime rivals from Division A the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers.

The Lions put out Ramsey Walz to fight for possession with his teammates Jack Passa, Hayden Seay, Jett Lundeen and Izaac Strandlien. The Lakers set up with Jace Crocket to fight for possession with Colton Feller, Drew Roedocker, Levon Duchaine and Jake Schaefer behind him. The Lions won the first possession of the ball and that quickly set the mood for the game. Every possession was a fight, every point was a battle.

The Lakers led this fight for the first quarter with Schaefer making three 3-pointers to help with the Lakers early lead. Feller brough it five points for the Lakers. In the paint Crocket and Ramsey competed. Ramsey brought a good defence for the Lions and only allowed Crocket two points for the Lakers. Ramsey made seven points for the Lions including a 3-pointer. Strandlien scored five points for Bishop Ryan leaving them behind to end the first quarter 12-18.

With their small lead the Lakers kept up their defense for the second quarter of the game. The Lions made 14 more points this quarter to shorten the Lakers lead. Ramsey made six points, starting to fill the gap between the two teams. To help Lundeen made two free throw shots earning his team two more points.

The Lakers Roedocker, Easton Anderson, Kyler Fisher and Feller each made three more points for Des Lacs, keeping the score close. The Lions made four more points on account of Passa and Seay. The Lakers Feller made a free throw just before the second period ended to keep the 30-26 lead over the Lions.

The Lions started to slowly take the lead in the third period of the game. With Lundeen earning the Lions an impressive 18 points, he led the Lions into the scoring edge. Using a stronger defense, Bishop Ryan held back the Lakers in the third period and allowed only two players to score. Feller made five points for the Lakers, Schaefer made four.

Des Lacs tried to keep their lead but couldn’t keep up with the Lions. Strandlien made a 3-pointer for the Lions followed by teammates Passa, Seay and Ramsey who each made two more points for the Lions. The Lions scored 29 points in the third quarter to give them a strong 51-39 lead over the Lakers.

The Lakers fought hard for every ball in the fourth quarter in an attempt to make up ground. Feller and Schaefer, the top scorers for the Lakers, couldn’t take back the lead. Feller made seven points for the Lakers. Schaefer and Crockett made four points each. This gave the Laker a 15 point total for the quarter, making their final score 54 for Des Lacs-Burlington.

The Lions broke through Des Lacs defence enough to keep their lead in the fourth quarter of the game. Bishop Ryan scored 14 more points. Strandlien with two and Seay with four. Passa brought home the win for the Lions with eight points in the final quarter to secure the 65-54 win over the Lakers.

The Bishop Ryan Lions will host the Velva Aggies on Friday, January 17, in a battle between currently ranked teams.