Portland Secures Win Against Lafayette with Strong Bench Performance

 

On Saturday night, the Portland Pilots triumphed over the Lafayette Leopards with a score of 74-64, buoyed by an impressive performance from Chris Austin, who contributed significantly with 20 points off the bench. Austin’s efficiency was evident as he connected on 6 of 11 attempts from the floor and converted 6 of 7 free throws, cementing his role in the victory for Portland, which now holds a record of 5-8 this season.

 

Supporting Austin in the scoring department was Austin Rapp, who netted 15 points. He showcased his shooting prowess by hitting 4 of 6 shots, including 2 of 4 from beyond the arc, while also grabbing eight rebounds. Kelson Gebbers added depth to the scoring with 10 points, going 2 for 4 from the field and perfecting his free throws at 4 for 4.

 

On the other side, Justin Vander Baan led the Leopards, scoring 17 points and making two steals. His teammate Mark Butler contributed 11 points along with four assists, while Alex Chaikin matched him with another 11 points for Lafayette, which now sits with a record of 5-7.

 

Portland created a solid foundation going into halftime, leading 31-22. The standout scorer of the first half was Austin, who tallied 12 points. In the second half, the Pilots launched a decisive 14-3 run that shifted the momentum, allowing them to transform a mild one-point deficit into a commanding 55-45 lead with just under nine minutes remaining. Rapp also played a crucial role in the second half, scoring nine points to help secure the win.

 

The effectiveness of Portland’s bench proved pivotal in this game, ultimately sealing a much-needed victory as they continue to develop their gameplay throughout the season.