Survive and advance: Tigers move on

NEW LONDON - They never said it would be easy.

The New London basketball team knew that coming into its district quarterfinal against Lisbon on Monday night, but the Tigers might not have expected just how tough it would be. The Lions pushed the Tigers all nithg long before New London could escape with a 44-40 victory.

'At this point of the season, we just plan to get a win by any means necessary,” said sophomore Blaise Porter. 'We did whatever we could to get through the hump.”

The Tigers led 10-3 after one quarter and 22-14 at halftime, despite an 11-point first half from Lisbon's Kole Becker. Porter had nine to lead New London.

The Tigers led by as much as 11 points after Kade Benjamin converted an 3-point play on a fast break dunk in the third quarter. Lisbon would battle back, and the Tigers' lead was at 32-25 at the third quarter horn.

Lisbon had its best run of the game in the fourth quarter. The Lions would come all the way back to take a 37-36 lead with 2:30 remaining.

'They crawled their way back from an 11-point game and had all the momentum,” New London coach Bryant Porter said. 'At that time, you've got to grow up or go home.”

And grow up they did. The Tigers' sophomore stars both had clutch moments, as Porter hit a pair of free throws to put New London back in front, and Benjamin knocked down a midrange jumper to make it 40-37.

Lisbon had a couple of chances to tie the game, but couldn't get a good shot off. Camden Kasel forced a Lion turnover with 30 seconds left, which led to another made free throw by Porter. Lisbon knocked it back to two points again on a corner 3-pointer, but Benjamin iced the game with a pair of shots at the line and New London survived.

Porter led the Tigers with 23 points in the win. Benjamin finished with 11. Devin Swanson scored four. Kasel and Caydin Wahls each finished with three.

New London will next play at Burlington Notre Dame in the district semifinals. That game will be played on Thursday night, with the winner advancing to the district title game against either Springville or Danville.