Lakeview, July 16 — In a nail-biting finish that had fans on their feet until the final buzzer, the Lakeview High Tigers secured the District 7 Championship last night with a dramatic 58–55 overtime win against the Westbrook Eagles.
Senior point guard Malik Johnson led the Tigers with 21 points, including a clutch three-pointer with 14 seconds left in OT to seal the victory. “We’ve worked for this all season,” Johnson said. “I saw my shot and took it. We weren’t going home without that trophy.”
The game was a back-and-forth battle from the start. Westbrook’s forward Jalen Reese dominated the paint with 16 rebounds and 12 points, but foul trouble in the fourth quarter limited his impact down the stretch. The Tigers tied the game at 49 in regulation thanks to a fast-break layup by sophomore guard Ava Chen, who also contributed 8 assists and 4 steals.
Coach Dan Holloway praised his team’s resilience. “We’ve faced adversity all year. Tonight, they showed heart, hustle, and what it means to wear that Lakeview jersey.”
The Tigers will now advance to the regional semifinals next Tuesday in Brookhaven.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.