Detroit Lakes scored the first 11 points and trounced Park Rapids 73-27 in a Mid-State Conference boys basketball game at home Thursday night.
The Lakers showed a marked improvement from the first meeting in a nine-point win at Park Rapids.
Reed Mace, Max Gunderson, Tate Kerzman and Drew Markuson all scored in the opening run off the tip-off for an 11-0 lead.
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A Kerzman field goal put DL up 26-8 in the latter stages of the half and DL went to halftime on an 11-2 run to lead big at the break 37-10.
Kerzman and Gunderson opened the second half with the first two baskets leading the Lakers to a 30-point advantage up 50-20 on a Caeden Yliniemi field goal.
Head coach Markus Okeson made wholesale changes with the big lead allowing 11 different Lakers to get on the scoresheet.
The substitutes kept the run going finishing the game on a 23-7 clip.
Gunderson led all scorers with 18 points and recorded a double-double pulling down 11 rebounds.
Markuson added nine points. Caleb Tangen and Matthew Tobkin each scored eight.
Kaiden Walsh led the visitors with eight points.
The loss was the sixth straight for the Panthers dropping Park Rapids’ overall mark to 2-20 and 1-8 in the Mid-State.
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Detroit Lakes has won two straight conference games to improve to 10-12 overall and 8-1 in the Mid-State with one conference game remaining. A victory in Crosby Friday, Feb. 21 can clinch sole possession of the conference title.
Prior to that, the Lakers look for a section victory at Little Falls (7-12) Tuesday, Feb. 18. Both teams are winless in 8AAA play this year: DL 0-5, Little Falls is 0-3. The Lakers are currently sixth in the eight-team section; Little Falls is seventh.
Detroit Lakes 73, Park Rapids 27
PR 10 17 - 27
DL 37 36 - 73
PR - Kaiden Walsh 8, James Hartig 4, Noah Morris 3, Shawn Ohm 3, Kolby Brandt 2, Noah Larson 2, Nick Michaelson 2, Mason Yliniemi 2, Parker Harmon 1.
DL - Max Gunderson 18, Drew Markuson 9, Caleb Tangen 8, Matthew Tobkin 8, Tate Kerzman 7, Cole Bryant 5, Reed Mace 5, Gabe Hanninen 4, Zack Oistad 4, Caeden Yliniemi 4, Nate Cihak 1.
