Getting the basketball to the basket wasn't the problem for the Detroit Lakes boys' basketball team Saturday -- it was finishing it off which ended up being their downfall.
The Lakers shot just 34 percent from the field and 25 percent at the free throw line in a 63-51 loss in Perham, as DL dropped to 7-11 and extended a four-game losing streak.
"We got our looks at the basket and had some good shots, we just didn't finish them off," said DL head coach Robb Flint. "And if you don't hit your free throws, you usually don't win."
DL was 3-12 from the free throw line, while Perham went 7-8 and shot the ball much more effectively.
Sophomore Zach Gabbard paced the Yellowjackets off the bench by scoring 19 of his 22 points in the first half, including five three pointers.
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With Gabbard's perimeter shooting loosening up the middle, Perham big guy, 6-7 center Ben Bucholz, notched 16 of his 24 points in the second half.
"We did a good job on Bucholz in the first half, but with Gabbard hitting his outside shots, it did loosen up the middle for them," Flint added.
DL leading scorer Josh Stalberger played in limited action once again, but did score 11 points in the second half after the Lakers trailed 34-19 at halftime.
Junior guard Connor McLeod added 11 points, as well, while Connor Hedstrom and Tyler Fode each had eight points.
The Lakers have been affected by some cold shooting the last couple of weeks.
"It's been a little mental, but with Josh being out, defenses don't have to double inside on him, which usually gave open looks on the perimeter for our shooters," Flint said. "We just have to start knocking down our shots."
It was the turnover which was the culprit in DL's 64-48 loss in Crosby-Ironton Friday.
The Lakers had 25 turnovers against the quick and talented Rangers, which was too much to overcome.
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"Their speed really affected us," Flint said of the No. 4 Class 2A ranked C-I squad, which is 17-1 on the season.
"We just didn't handle their quickness."
Alex Guetter played well in place of Stalberger, who was out with a hip injury, by netting eight points, while Hedstrom had 11 and Fode 10.
DL will next host Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (7-11) Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. start.
Laker results
Detroit Lakes at Perham, Saturday, Feb. 6.
Lakers 19 32 - 51
Yellowjackets 34 29 - 63
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Scoring stats (2-3-ftm-fta-pts) -- DL: Connor Hedstrom 1-2-0-0-8; Tyler Fode 1-2-0-0-8; Connor McLeod 2-2-1-3-11; Rick Hutchinson 1-0-0-0-2; Brian Labat 3-0-1-5-7; Josh Stalberger 4-0-0-2-11; Alex Guetter 3-0-1-2-5. Team: 15-6-3-12-51.
Perh: Gabbard 2-6-0-0-22; Bucholz 9-1-3-3-24; Tobkin 0-1-2-2-5; Straton 2-0-0-0-4; Bruhn 2-0-2-3-6. Team: 16-8-7-8-63.
Detroit Lakes at Crosby-Ironton, Friday, Feb. 5.
Lakers 14 34 - 48
Rangers 33 31 - 64
Scoring -- DL: Hedstrom 4-0-3-4-11; Fode 0-3-1-2-10; McLeod 2-0-2-2-6; Hutchinson 2-0-0-0-4; B. Labat 2-0-1-2-5; Mark Labat 0-0-0-2-0; Tanner Twigg 0-0-4-4-4; Guetter 3-0-2-2-8. Team: 13-3-13-18-48.
CI: Nathan Hudrlik 0-0-1-2-1; Kyle Pribyl 1-0-2-2-4; Matthew Hudrlik 3-0-3-3-9; Tyler Dickie 1-1-0-2-05; Phil Kuhlmann 1-0-0-0-2; Mark Hoge 7-1-0-0-17; Sam Baker 2-1-0-0-7; Brock Tesdahl 1-2-3-8-11; Tyler Snook 1-0-2-2-4; Jasper Schmidt 0-0-2-2-2; Michael Hogie 1-0-0-0-2. Team: 18-5-13-21-64.
