*LC-M 62 Lumberton 40 Final/Comments*

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http://www.chron.com/sports/highschoolsports/results.html?site=default&tpl=Boxscore&Sport=6&ID=6965&TeamID=867&SearchType=Teams

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Bears get needed win against Lumberton

Gabe Pruett

The Orange Leader

LITTLE CYPRESS — Overcoming a slow start, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears powered their way past the Lumberton Raiders Tuesday to stay in the thick of the District 22=4A playoff race.

LC-M got a game-high 16 points from Justin Kinsley in its 62-40 win which rebounded the Bears (16-6, 2-2) from a loss Friday to Nederland.

Nederland was a 76-68 winner in overtime against Dayton Tuesday to keep a one-game lead for third place over LC-M.

Ozen and Central remained tied for first in 22-4A as both teams won Tuesday. Ozen downed Vidor, 68-35, while Central defeated Port Neches-Groves, 62-53.

Bears Coach Darin Harley knew the significance of Tuesday’s win and was pleased the way his team finished off the Raiders (3-19, 0-4) who were led by Cody Hussey’s 15 points.

“We needed this one after letting Nederland off the hook last Friday,†Harley said. “We started slow but we kept doing the things that we do. We knew Lumberton was a physical group and we always have a hard time with those guys. That was a good practice for what we will see this Friday in Vidor.â€

Kevin Cooper added 11 points and seven rebounds in the win while both C.J. Champine and Dallas Bean each finished the night with 10 points. Champine grabbed a game-high nine rebounds while Bean notched six boards. Ben Parson had seven rebounds on the night.

LC-M would out-rebound Lumberton 44-24 on the night.

Up 40-32 heading into the fourth, the Bears got nine points from Kinsley in the frame to make sure the Raiders rally would come up short.

LC-M outscored Lumberton 22-8 in the game’s final eight minutes to seal the deal.

After falling in love with the outside shot at times in the game, Harley’s team found most of its points closer to the goal and was able to score sometimes at will.

“That is something we talk a lot about,†Harley said. “We are not a good basketball team when we start settling for three-pointers. We are at are best when we run gaps and attack those gaps. We do real well when we don’t go all the way to the basket and get in trouble. We were able to knock down some jumpers tonight.â€

Lumberton also had a bit of bad luck in the fourth as Jonathan Wood, who finished with 11 points and six rebounds, fouled out with 2:35 left in the fourth.

Without an inside presence, the Bears chewed up the points in the paint and built up their lead.

The Bears’ slow start can be contributed to just two buckets being made in the first period by LC-M.

While LC-M was struggling from the floor, both Hussey and Wood each had five points in the game’s first eight minutes.

Champine warmed up in the second as the senior scored seven points before heading into half-time, with three coming right at the buzzer from deep beyond the arc.

Neither team had great third periods as Lumberton outscored LC-M 10-9 in the frame as the Bears led 40-32 heading into the fourth.

LC-M returns to action Friday when they travel to face Vidor who is 1-3 in the district loop.

[24 over par]

congrats lcm