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Estherville Lincoln Central cut a 12-point half-time deficit to two with 3:14 in the fourth quarter against Lake Mills.

But the Bulldogs hung on, making four straight free throws down the stretch to hang on to a 60-54 win on Saturday.

"At halftime, we told them they could roll over for the season or come out and play hard and they did," said ELC coach York Plagge. "We matched their level of offense for the second half."

Jeremy Hunt, who ended the game with a team-high 17 points, scored nine points in the third quarter, but ELC trailed 45-36 to start the final frame.

Although Lake Mills opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer. Hunt answered and ELC began its run. Tyler Lutz scored followed by four points from Alex Arends and another basket from Hunt as ELC pulled within 51-47.

Marcus Christensen's 3-pointer finally cut the deficit to two, 52-50 with 3:14 left to play.

Lake Mills hit a pair of free throws followed by another basket from Christensen.

But after the visitors scored, Christensen had a chance at the foul line on a 1-and-1, but missed.

Lake Mills scored to push the lead to six with Arends coming back with a basket of his own to cut the lad to 58-54.

But two more Lake Mills free throws sealed the win.

In the first quarter, the two teams went back and fourth with ELC briefly holding leads of 8-7 and 10-9, courtesy of baskets from Arends.

But ELC was outscored 9-2 to end the period and trailed 18-12.

ELC's offense sputtered in the second period too with just nine points as the host team trailed 33-21 at the break.

Arends had 12 points along with seven rebounds. He, Hunt and Tyler Lutz each had four assists.

ELC (2-7) is home against Western Christian on Monday, Jan. 4, for a make-up game. Cherokee comes to Estherville on Jan. 5.

Lake Mills 60, ELC 54

ELC Seniors (54) - Spencer Johnson 3 0-0 6; Tyler Lutz 4 4-6 8; Marcus Christensen 3 0-0 7; Jeremy Hunt 7 0-0 17; Jacob Perkins 1 0-0 2; Ty Wilson 0 0-0 0; Aaron Lindell 0 0-0 0; Adam McCarthy 0 0-0 0; Alex Arends 6 0-1 12; Cody Prather 0 0-0 0.

Halftime Score -Lake Mills 33, ELC 21 3-pointers - 4 (Hunt 3, Christensen). Rebounds - 30 (Arends 7). Assists - 14 (Hunt 4, Arends 4, Lutz 4). Steals - 7 (Christensen 2, Hunt 2). Blocked Shots - 1 (Perkins). Turnovers - 13. Total Fouls - 20. Fouled Out - none. Technical Fouls - none.