Raiders season ended by DCLA

The third time didn’t turn out to be the charm for Lomega against Deer Creek-Lamont.

The Eagles downed Lomega 65-60 Friday in a Class B area consolation semifinal at Enid’s Stride Bank Center.

It was Lomega’s third loss to No. 16 DCLA, all since Jan. 17.

This one ended the Raiders’ season as they finished up at 21-10.

DCLA was sent on to knock off No. 7 Frontier 49-48 on Saturday to earn a trip to the state tournament.

The Raiders had a tough time containing DCLA’s Will Muegge in the first half as he went off for five 3-pointers and scored 19 points.

He got plenty of help in the first quarter as the Eagles got out to a 22-13 lead.

Lomega made its comeback in the second as Jaxson Snowden scored 11 points inside and Ben Marsh added two treys as part of his eight points.

Lomega outscored DCLA 21-14 to pull within two points at the break.

Marsh kept it going in the third quarter with nine points.

Meanwhile, the Lomega offense shut down Muegge, who was scoreless in the third.

Unfortunately, Logan Sutherland, who was scoreless in the first half, came alive in the final two quarters.

He scored nine points in the third, but Lomega was still within a point entering the fourth.

The Raiders were hurt by DCLA’s ability to grab offensive rebounds, perhaps no time more than with under 2:30 to play.

Lomega was within three points when Sutherland grabbed an offensive board, scored the putback and was fouled.

Sutherland missed his free throw, but Brice Bledsoe grabbed the miss and put it back in for a 63-56 advantage with 2:17 to play.

Lomega clawed its way back in.

Snowden grabbed a steal off a tipped pass, pushed it ahead to Lance Yost, who scored and was fouled.

This time Lomega turned the tables. Yost’s free throw missed and the long rebound went to Ben Marsh.

The senior knocked down a jump shot and the Raiders were back within 63-60 with 1:00 to play.

DCLA was able to work off some clock, but eventually turned it back over with 42 seconds to go.

The Raiders ended up getting multiple chances to tie or pull within one.

Chase Burton’s would-be game-tying 3-pointer was off the mark, but the scrum for the ball eventually went off DCLA with 21 seconds remaining.

Burton got another attempt at a 3, but it also was off the mark. Snowden, though, grabbed the rebound.

Snowden got two putback attempts, but missed both and DCLA eventually cleared the rebound.

Lomega didn’t have another possession and the Eagles ended up scoring a basket as time expired.

Four Eagles scored in double figures.

Muegge led the team with 22 while Sutherland scored all 15 of his in the second half.

Bledsoe chipped in 14 and Brandon Bledsoe 13.

In his final game, Marsh led the Raiders with 22 points.

Snowden scored 20 and Burton, another Raider senior, scored 11 points.

Their season ended with a 21-10 mark.