Lake boys bowlers reach state finals; boys basketball closes regular season with two wins

They’ve gotten close before, but this time the Lake boys bowling team left no room for doubt.

For the first time in school history, the Blue Streaks will compete for a state title after placing second among 21 teams at the OHSAA Division I Northeast District boys bowling tournament Feb. 22 at Rebman Recreation.

The only team ahead of Lake was 2025 state runner-up Youngstown Boardman. Lake finished with a pinfall of 4,303, just 57 behind the Spartans’ 4,360. Also advancing to the Division I state championships, scheduled for March 6 at HP Lanes in Columbus, are Steele (4,246), Cleveland St. Ignatius (4,223) and Avon Lake (4,222).

Lake was led by junior Andrew Venus, who rolled a three-game series of 690. Senior Josh Trent followed with a 686 as both finished among the top eight individuals to earn all-tournament honors. Junior Noah Earles added a 631 series.

Eight days earlier, the Blue Streaks claimed the Division I Northeast District sectional title at Eastbury Lanes with a total pinfall of 4,178, just four pins ahead of North Canton Hoover. Both the sectional and district tournaments featured a format of three individual games and six Baker System games in which five teammates rotate frames.

At sectionals, Trent posted Lake’s high series with a 640, while Venus rolled a 612. Earles carded a 578, and junior Benjamin Venus was close behind at 576, including Lake’s high game of the day, a 246.

The Lake girls team also competed at sectionals. The Blue Streaks moved up a spot in the Baker games but placed sixth overall with a total pinfall of 3,063, 125 pins shy of the cut as the top four teams advanced. Junior Laney Butler led Lake with a 464 series, followed by sophomore Addy Snyder with a 444 and junior Bella Feher with a 440.

Girls basketball

Lake opened postseason play with a 55-43 win over Warren Howland in a Division III Northeast 4 District sectional final Feb. 21.

The 16th-seeded Blue Streaks built a 28-17 halftime lead over the No. 31 Tigers and maintained control. Hayden Croyle went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and led Lake (14-9) with 21 points. Savanna Horning added 14 points and Kaitlyn Josef finished with 13. Maya Kubancsek led Howland (6-17) with 21 points.

Boys basketball

In a season that included a seven-game losing streak, the Blue Streaks closed strong, winning their final two regular-season games as they prepared for their Division III Northeast 6 District sectional game Feb. 27.

Lake hosted Minerva on Feb. 17 in a nonconference matchup and defeated the Lions 64-58 in overtime. Minerva entered the game on a five-game winning streak and built a 20-6 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Lake chipped away, trimming the deficit to 34-23 at halftime, cutting another eight points in the third quarter and tying the game in the fourth to force overtime. The Blue Streaks carried the momentum into the extra period to secure the win.

Sophomore Lucas Draher led Lake with 21 points, including three 3-pointers, while freshman Taden Coblentz added 16. Skylar Lab led Minerva (12-10) with 17 points, and Rowen Hoffee added 12.

Two days later, Lake closed the regular season with a 51-49 road win over Federal League rival Green. Individual statistics were not available. Lake finished 8-14 overall and 2-10 in the league, completing a season sweep of the Bulldogs (5-16, 1-11).