The LRSC men’s basketball team meets for a timeout during a game at North Star Public School in Cando. (Photo by Mojo Hill)
The Lake Region State College men’s basketball team saw its season end Sunday.
The No. 5 seed Royals lost, 84-78, to No. 4 seed Miles Community College in the first round of the Region XIII playoffs in Miles City, Mont.
Their final record was 13-18.
“One of the more frustrating years as we just could never get everyone healthy,” LRSC head coach Jared Marshall wrote on X. “We started 11 different guys and 17 different lineup combinations. Guys never quit though. Thank you everyone for your support.”
The latest subtraction from the lineup was Ashton Munro. Ikhuoria Osezojie started in his place. Osezojie only had one field goal attempt, scoring zero points and collecting six rebounds in 25 minutes of playing time.
Akok Ajou had a strong performance with 15 points and 12 rebounds. He made a jump shot in the second half that put the Royals ahead, 51-50.
Four Winds alum Dalen Leftbear had 13 points. He made his own jumper with 9:08 left to give LRSC a 63-62 lead.
The Royals were down by two with as little as 1:40 left, and by three with as few as 21 seconds on the clock.
They were ultimately sunk by 27 points from Azenio Cossa and three other Pioneers in double figures.
LRSC didn’t score until more than three minutes into the game. There went on to be eight lead changes. After going down 7-0 to open the game, the Royals never trailed by more than seven points.
Starters Remy Davis Warrington and Jazayah Gates scored 13 and 11, respectively, for LRSC.
Derrick Lee Jr. added 14 off the bench. His playing time was sparse for most of the season but picked up towards the end.
Jeremiah Johnson, LRSC’s most productive bench player throughout the season, scored nine off the bench.
Cooper Adams got 21 minutes off the bench and scored three points.
Little Hail Perkins and Brennan Johnson were both listed on the active roster but didn’t play on Sunday.
Dane Hagler started for the bulk of the year, but his season both started and ended with an injury.
LRSC had split its regular-season slate with MCC, losing 84-72 and winning 94-84.
The Royals have not had a winning season since the 2021-22 campaign. Last year was close, though, at 16-16 after a Region XIII semifinal loss.
Davis Warrington and Ajou were tied for the most points per game on the team with 12.7.
Leftbear averaged 11.1 in his first and last season in Royal blue.
Besides health, defense turned out to be the biggest issue for LRSC. It averaged 93.7 points allowed per game — the highest mark in the online recorded history of the program, which goes back to the 2014-15 season.
The LRSC women’s team is still alive, with its first playoff game scheduled for Wednesday in Wahpeton against North Dakota State College of Science.
