Finding a shooting rhythm was a challenge for both NDCL and Gilmour early on Dec. 23. Through the first three quarters, the sides connected on five combined 3-pointers on 23 attempts. But when the Lions needed it the most, they found the looks from deep, courtesy of Mason Pesho. That plus a successful late inbounds pass pushed the Lions ahead for the 59-57 victory. NDCL moves to 6-1 while Gilmour fell to 5-2. Early on, the Lions’ tempo was the difference-maker on the defensive end, forcing seven turnovers and speeding up the Lancers. But the Loins also struggled getting Connor Hernan going inside, as he had just three points in the first half. But the rest of the team stepped up. Mason Pesho and Angelo Tamburrino hit pull-up jumpers early as Connor Hernan controlled the glass with seven first-half rebounds. Coach Pat Vuyancih said Connor Hernan’s struggles benefitted the Lions. “This was the first game back for Brenden Hernan, who was out with pneumonia,” Vuyancih said. “He just now creeping back into the rotation. There were times we put him in there and his length made a difference. We’re going to be even more versatile as the season goes on.” The game also provided NDCL with an early season test that felt like the postseason. The Lions had won four of their last five by double figures. But with a first-half lead dwindling, the players knew this had the feel of a district final or regional round game. NDCL needs to find ways to win games like the one Dec. 23 to push deep into the postseason. “Gilmour is a very good and very well-coached team,” Pesho said. “We knew that they were going to be ready and we went extra heavy on the preperation. We knew there was going to be up and downs but the game last year helped us push through.” Gilmour tied the game at 45-45 to end the third quarter. Nick Illiano gave Gilmour the lead at the start of the fourth with a layup but it didn’t last long as Pesho hit a 3 on the next possession for the Lions. Illiano had another layup to retake the lead but Pesho hit a transition layup of his own that put NDCL up 50-49. Zac Titas split a pair of free throws to tie the game. NDCL then translated a turnover into an open 3-pointer for Pesho and the lead for good for NDCL. “Gilmour is a very heavy trap team,” Pesho said. “I passed it to Tamburrino, I saw my guy leave and go to him. I knew that I was going to get the ball back and I was gonna let it fly.” Pesho finished with 16 points, followed by Tamburrino with 12 and Connor Hernan had 11 points and 12 rebounds. But Gilmour didn’t go away. A 3-pointer by Ky Jackson with 18 seconds left made it 59-55 with 18 seconds left. While it was a closer finish, Vuyancih liked the challenge for his guys. After last year’s run to the district final for the Lions, he likes the idea of a challenge for his players at the end of the game. “We were up nine, which is really hard to do against Gilmour,” Vuyancih said. “We knew coach (Dan) DeCrane and his whole staff are good coaches. So we knew they would battle back into the game and made adjustments. They went full court man, they started trapping us and stepped up their intensity. We maintained enough poise to attack their traps and what they were getting into. We talk about that all the time, our poise and we kept the composure.” The Lancers forced a turnover and Illiano made a layup with 1.2 seconds left to make it a two-point game and draw a timeout. But Ryan Lipowski heaved the inbound past the half-court line to Connor Hernan to end the comeback. Coach Dan DeCrane liked the second-half chances but wants more consistency out of the Lancers. “We didn’t guard very well on the ball,” DeCrane said. “They like to put their head down and get to the rim or paint and we let them do that. We stopped on screens and were able to do what they wanted. We did some different things in our zone that bothered them but we need to be better 1-5 on defense.” Illiano led the way with 16 off the bench, 10 in the second half. Zac Titas also had 15 points for Gilmour. With its five-game win streak snapped, Gilmour aims for a new one with a trip to Canton McKinley on Dec. 28. NDCL has a tall road task next time out on the same date with Lutheran East.