Lake Belton 7B Tournament - Champions The Lake Belton boys’ 7th grade basketball team delivered an electrifying performance at the Academy B Team Tournament, emerging as champions after a series of impressive wins capped by a heart-stopping overtime victory in the final. In their opening game, Lake Belton set the tone with a dominant 29-10 win over the host team, Academy. Their smothering defense and fast-paced offense were too much for Academy to handle, allowing Lake to cruise to victory. The momentum continued into the second game, when Lake faced South Belton. Lake showcased their relentless energy and teamwork to secure another win, advancing to the championship game. The final matchup against Belton Middle School proved to be the ultimate test. Both teams brought a level of intensity and physicality that had fans on the edge of their seats. With the game coming down to the wire, Mason Brown stepped up in a clutch moment, draining a three-pointer in the final seconds to force overtime and sending the Lake Belton bench into a frenzy. In the extra period, the tension in the gym was palpable. It was Conner Krueger who sealed the victory for Lake Belton with an unforgettable game-winning shot, giving his team a thrilling 20-19 win and the tournament championship. Lake Red 8th grade team , Finishes Runner-Up Lake Red basketball team showcased determination and grit at the Academy Tournament on Saturday, playing three intense games and finishing as the tournament runner-up. Game 1: Narrow Loss to the Host Academy In their opening game, Lake Red faced off against the host Academy team in a tightly contested matchup. Despite a strong effort, they fell just short, losing 21-20. Roman Zaragoza led the scoring with 8 points, followed by Makalyn Harrison with 4. Ellias Torres-Valle added 3 points, while Jakobe Sisson and Michael Brooks-Davis contributed 2 points each, and Charlie Valish chipped in 1. Defensively, Caleb Eckert, Nidon Shin, and Carlos Sanchez played key roles in keeping the game close. Game 2: Victory Over South Belton Lake Red bounced back in their second game with a commanding 17-9 win against South Belton. Cooper Smith was the offensive standout with 6 points, while Michael Brooks-Davis added 4. Carson Kukulski, Ellias Torres-Valle, and Roman Zaragoza each scored 2 points, and Jakobe Sisson rounded out the scoring with 1 point. On the defensive end, Caleb Eckert, Nidon Shin, Carlos Sanchez, and Roman Zaragoza were instrumental in securing the victory. Championship Game: Hard-Fought Loss to North Red In the final game, Lake Red faced North Red in the championship. Despite a valiant effort, they came up short, losing 28-22. Carson Kukulski led the offense with 6 points, followed by Jakobe Sisson with 5 and Caleb Eckert with 4. Charlie Valish and Carlos Sanchez each added 2 points, while Cooper Smith, Makalyn Harrison, and Michael Brooks-Davis contributed 1 point apiece. Roman Zaragoza and Nidon Shin stood out defensively, battling hard against North Reds attack. Next Up Lake Red will look to build on their strong tournament showing when they face Belton Middle School on Monday, January 27, at Lake Belton Middle School. Fans are encouraged to come out