Journal Staff
After a dismal start the Lambton Lions men’s basketball team are showing signs of life.
Following three straight victories the squad was named last week’s Team of the Week by the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association, taking top spot among the OCAA’s 29 members across 12 varsity sports.
More importantly, heading into Friday’s game the team’s 3-8 record left it just two games out of a West Division playoff spot.
Last year the Lions capped an outstanding 13-5 regular season with a bronze medal at the OCAA playoffs.
But just four members from that squad are still on the roster, which struggled early out of the gate.
"We knew that things were going to be difficult with so many new faces in the gym this September,” said head coach James Grant.
“They have really been working hard as a team and it’s great to see them achieving success."
The team has also had some individual achievements.
Guard Branden Padgett scored his 1000th career point in a recent victory over the Mohawk Mountaineers. Het became just the fourth Lion in program history to reach that mark, Mike Lucier (1,482), Chad Pereira (1,106) and Shawn Hill (1,048) in 1,000 Points Club.
Lucier and Hill went on to play professionally in Europe.