The Lions had a chance to pick up their first victory of the season in dramatic fashion on Thursday, but a game-winning 3-point attempt was blocked just before the buzzer in a 51-49 loss to Midland. 

Drew Gaulley drove to the free throw line and found Nick Viner with a bounce pass, resulting in an easy shot off the backboard and a 43-37 Lone Tree lead midway through the fourth quarter. Viner also hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key during the 7-0 Lion run. 

The Eagles scored 10 points from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and took a 48-46 lead on a 3-pointer with less than two minutes left. Tyler Bell, who scored the first points of the fourth quarter on a steal and layup, scored the final Lone Tree points of the game, pulling the Lions within a point at 50-49 with 14 seconds left. Bell was 6-6 from the field for 13 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Gaulley was 3-4 from the 3-point line for 10 points. Aiden Forbes scored eight points. Cade Patterson had five points, five assists and four steals. Cade Shield had six points, five rebounds and two steals. 

Lone Tree girls can't hold off Eagles

Lone Tree came back from a 10-point deficit to briefly take a lead in the fourth quarter, but was unable to hold on in a 50-46 loss to Midland on Thursday. 

The Lady Lions trailed 37-27 with 30 seconds left in the third quarter when Chloe Mills hit a shot from outside, starting a 15-2 Lone Tree run. 

Kasey Chown’s putback put Lone Tree ahead 42-39 with 4:15 left, but turnovers would cost Lone Tree down the stretch. 

The Eagles scored their next five points from the free throw line and led 44-43 when Allison Paulsen caught the ball on the block and put it in off the glass. Ella Rupp stole the inbounds pass and laid it in to increase the lead to five with just over a minute to play. 

Chown led the Lady Lions with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Mills was 3-4 from the 3-point line for nine points. Mills also forced a five-second call with her defense in a two-point game with 2:23 left. 

Skylar Smith had seven points and Allison Marshek had six. Josie Mullinnix blocked four shots and Maddie McCullough had four steals. 

The Lady Lions were whistled for 25 fouls. McCullough and leading scorer Maddie Jacque both fouled out while Mullinnix and Mills each finished with four fouls. Midland was 13-30 from the free throw line while Lone Tree finished 11-22.