The Carterville Lions boys basketball team took on the Massac County Patriots on Saturday Night, snapping their six game win streak with a 58-41 loss. 

Lions Forward Kade Lustenberger won the tip and the action was underway. Massac jumped out to an early lead, but that was answered by a steal and a score on the other end by Lions guard Peyton Bittle. 

On the next possession, Lustenberger drained a three, cutting Massac’s lead to 8-5 early in the 1st quarter. After a defensively driven 1st quarter, Massac guard Brody Smallman hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, extending the Massac lead to 11-6 after a quarter of play. 

The Patriots broadened their lead to 18-6 after a 7-0 run in the second quarter, but Lions guard Caden Hawkins got a two to fall, making it 18-8. Massac kept their foot on the gas though, quickly making the score 23-8. Hawkins was able to find Braden Wakey down low for two, drawing the score to 23-10. Hawkins began to heat up, drawing a foul on a made layup then converting the and=one, making the score 25-13. As the buzzer sounded, Hawkins was able to get a fadeaway two to fall, putting the Lions only down by 10, 27-17, at the half..

Hawkins continued his scoring as he drained a three coming out of the locker room, cutting the Massac lead to 27-20. The Lions continued to try to pry the momentum back in their favor, but the Patriots showed no weaknesses.

Massac would open the 4th quarter with a bucket and drive home the game with a strong defensive front..The Lions late efforts to score were unsuccessful with the final score being Massac County 58 Carterville 41. The Lions will be on the road at Trico this Friday, February 10th. 

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