The Lakeview Gators have been striding along all year flirting with the number one spot in 2A boys’ basketball. The Gators got a plus this year with a District Title to add to the resume. Lakeview was rolling along well until the flu bug hit the team hard.
“Who has a contingency plan for the flu,” stated Coach Williams.
The Lakeview Gators came up short twice, giving them two losses in a row.
“It is hard to go play a game when you are not at full strength. Your opponent will show you no love and state that you are giving excuses,” stated Coach Williams.
The Lakeview Gators came up short with a loss against Woodlawn 50-57 and another heart breaker to district rival Red River 53-71. The Gators were able to pull out a district victory against Winnfield 65-62.
“This was a hard stretch for us. We had to truly abide by the next man up mentality and take our results like men. We will take the two weeks before the playoffs start to get healthy and get our legs back under us,” stated Coach Williams.
With all the setbacks at the end of the year Lakeview was still able to attain another District Title and secure the # 1 spot in 2A. The high-powered offense and the smothering defense of the Gators makes them a heavy favorite in the 2A title run. The Gators will still have to contend with traditional power houses like #3 Rayville and #2 Port Allen, as well as upcoming teams such as #5 Amite, #4 Madison, and #6 French Settlement.
“2A is a hard class to prepare for. In 2A, you are still small enough where most athletes play multiple sports. With this being said, a record does not reflect the true abilities of teams that made a play-off run in football. We tend to look at the top, but there are some good teams flying under the radar. Jonesboro, Many and Oakdale to name a few,” stated Coach Williams.
No matter how it all plays out, this year’s upcoming playoffs is shaping up to be one for the record books. The Old Regime is trying to hold on to their tradition, while the new kids on the block are trying to make a name for themselves.
The LHSAA boys’ basketball playoffs will start Friday, February 25, 2020, and the only thing we can bank on is that the first-round home game will be at Lakeview. See you there or stay posted for the next article.
