Bears start title defense with blowout win

CROFTON - A long off-season came to an end last week when the defending state champion Bears took to the court at Crofton.

The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge boys basketball team began defense of its Class D1 title with a blowout win on the road, defeating the Warriors 72-41.

The Bears built an eight-point halftime advantage, then came out on fire to make it a 54-30 game going into the final period on their way to the easy win over the Warriors.

Cael Hartung shot 10-of-17 from the floor and finished with a game-high 23 points to lead three Bears in double figures. Evan Haisch added 18 points and Evan Schmitt tossed in 13.

Also scoring were Lucas Rasmussen with eight, Deagan Puppe with four and Austin Hall, Wilton Roberts and Grant Erwin with two apiece.

Hartung had a double-double with a team-best 12 rebounds while Haisch and Puppe each grabbed four. Schmitt and Puppe each dished out three assists. Puppe had five steals and Roberts grabbed four.

WC played at Homer on Tuesday and will host Tri County Northeast on Friday and Randoh on Saturday.

15 13 26 18 - 72

Crofton 10 10 10 11 - 41

SCORING

LCC - Cael Hartung, 23; Evan Haisch, 18; Evan Schmitt, 13; Lucas Rasmussen, 8; Deagan Puppe, 4; Grant Erwin, 2; Wilton Roberts, 2; Austin Hall, 2.

REBOUNDS

LCC - Cael Hartung, 12; Evan Haisch, 6; Deagan Puppe, 6; Evan Schmitt, 4; Austin Hall, 4; Lucas Rasmussen, 1; Wilton Roberts, 1.

ASSISTS

LCC - Deagan Puppe, 3; Evan Schmitt, 3; Evan Haisch, 2; Cael Hartung, 1; Wilton Roberts, 1.

STEALS

LCC - Deagan Puppe, 5; Wilton Roberts, 4; Cael Hartung, 3; Lucas Rasmussen, 3; Evan Schmitt, 2; Grant Erwin, 1.

BLOCKS

LCC - Deagan Puppe, 2; Cael Hartung, 1; Austin Hall, 1.

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