Tuesday night the West Linn Lions played their second in-league game against the Lakeridge Pacers, planning to extend their in-league winning streak. The Lions last played the Pacers at home and beat them convincingly  92-75, but this game proved that nothing is ever certain.

Throughout the entire game, West Linn seemed to control the court, playing beautiful team basketball and scoring at will, yet the Pacers stayed in the game. Led by freshman, Immanuel Allen and Jake Spurgeon, senior, Lakeridge always seemed to be trailing by a few points, but scored 17 points in the second half. Regardless of the Lions attempts to slow him, Allen couldn’t be stopped, bowling his way into the paint.

With just a few seconds left in the game, West Linn’s Will Matthiessen, junior missed a free throw, prompting the Pacer’s final game winning dagger.  Allen stormed up the court laying in a floater while draped with defenders in the waning seconds left on the clock, Pritchard then threw up a desperation buzzer beater but missed, handing the Lions their first in-league loss this season 56-57.

The Lions next game is Feb. 6 at Canby High School at 6 p.m.