LCC Bears earn a split

BATTLE CREEK — The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Bears split their games during the week, closing with a road win over Battle Creek to move to 6-10 on the season.

LCC trailed the Braves 18-15 after the first quarter and the margin remained three points at halftime.

A 20-16 third quarter shifted the lead to the Bears by a single point, 46-45, heading into the final eight minutes.

LCC had just enough left in the tank to secure the victory, outscoring Battle Creek 14-13 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Drey Puppe led three Bears in double figures with 18 points. Cade Johnson added 15, Talon Carson had 14 and Paxton Hoeppner just missed double figures with nine.

Hoeppner, Carson and Puppe each grabbed five rebounds, and Hoeppner also dished out six assists.

Earlier in the week, Hartington-Newcastle jumped out to an eightpoint advantage at the end of the first quarter and added four more points to the lead by halftime.

The Wildcats won the third period 20-19. The Bears chipped away in the fourth quarter but could not overcome the deficit as Hartington-Newcastle secured the win.

Four LCC players scored in double figures in that contest, led by Johnson’s 19 points. Carson added 17, Hoeppner had 16 and Puppe finished with 13.

The Bears were set to travel to Norfolk to face Lutheran High Northeast on Jan. 27 before hosting Wakefield on Jan. 29. The Greater Northeast Activities Conference Tournament was scheduled to begin over the weekend.

LCC (6-10) 15 11 20 14 - 60 BC (4-12) 18 11 16 13 - 58 LAUREL-CONCORD-COLERIDGE: Parker Hoeppner 0-1 0-0 0; Paxton Hoeppner 2-5 3-4 9; Talon Carson 4-10 2-2 14; Drey Puppe 7-14 2-4 18; Ian Sohler 0-3 0-0 0; Tanner Thompson 1-2 2-2 4; Cade Johnson 5-11 4-6 15. LCC (6-10) 13 15 20 17 - 65 H-N (8-8) 21 19 21 12 - 73 LAUREL-CONCORD-COLERIDGE: Par. Hoeppner 0-1 0-0 0; Pax. Hoeppner 6-9 0-0 16; Carson 6-14 1-1 17; Puppe 5-16 3-6 13; Sohler 0-1 0-0 0; Thompson 0-1 0-0 0; Johnson 7-17 2-2 19.