Box Score Franklin Springs, GA- The Lions have started the Conference Carolinas tournament in a dominant fashion. The average margin of victory for the Lions two tournament games has been 21 points. They played one of their best halves of basketball of the season in the first half as they entered halftime with a 51-26 lead. They went on an 11-0 run early in the first half and never looked back.

The stifling defense and hot shooting continued for the Lions as they held the Crusaders to just 40% from the field for the game and 29% from beyond the arc. On the offensive end the Lions shot 53% from the field and 43% from deep for the game. Much of their offense was a byproduct of the tenacious defense the Lions played, as they forced the Crusaders to take tough contested shots and they would rebound and be off to the races on the other end. They did a great job of sharing the ball as a team, assisting on 18 of their 29 field goals. 

Everybody played a role in the Lions success in one way or another. Four Lions ended up in double figures. 
Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, KJ Jones II, controlled the game in his routine efficient way. He had a game high 29 points as he was 7 for 13 from the field 54% and a perfect 13 for 13 from the line. He also grabbed down 5 rebounds. 
All-Conference guard, Tyonn Stuckey, added 14 points. The sharp shooting point guard was 4 for 6 from beyond the arc. He dished out 4 assists and had 3 rebounds as well. 
Junior guard, Isaiah Foster, gave the Lions a spark off the bench as he poured in 13 points. He added 3 assists and had 4 rebounds as well. 
Junior forward, Michael Wright, had 12 points as he went 2 for 5 (40%) from beyond the arc. He added 3 rebounds. 

The Lions will be back in the Shaw Athletic Center, Sunday March 7 at 4pm, for the final time of the 2020-21 season as they face the Belmont Abbey Crusaders for the Conference Carolinas Championship. This will be the fifth time these two have met up this season, as both of them are 2-2 versus each other with the home team coming out victorious in each game so far between the two. This will also be the second time in three seasons that these two have met in the Conference championship game. Last time this matchup happened in the championship, the Lions captured their first Conference Carolinas tournament championship as they defeated Belmont Abbey in 2019. Hopefully, the outcome will be the same this go round.

For more information, visit www.goeclions.com.