LCA Basketball: Cougars Cross Threshold
WINONA LAKE – Josh McDaniel and the LCA Cougars got a taste of a championship Tuesday night.
McDaniel dropped 25 points and a host of teammates also got into the act as LCA rolled to a 96-31 victory over Howe Military to claim at least a share of the inaugural Hoosier Plains Conference boys basketball championship.
LCA overpowered Howe from the start, taking a 25-3 lead after the first quarter and put the cruise control on from there. For all of the struggles the 1-12 Wildcats had in building any momentum, LCA made good on its opportunities. The Cougars hit five threes in the first quarter, three from Eli Raymond, who ended with 15 points and four rebounds.
McDaniel scored 14 points in the third quarter alone and added three assists on the night. Jeremy Gross also continued his spirited play of late, posting 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Jake Harmon had 15 points and seven assists, Noah Twombly ended with 13 points, seven steals and six rebounds, Landon Twombly supplied six boards and four steals, and Trae Harris had a career-high eight points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds.
Lunden Dowdell had 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks for the Wildcats.
LCA, now 11-11 overall and 4-0 in the HPC, can win the title outright Thursday night at South Bend Career Academy. South Bend Trinity finished the conference slate 4-1.