Farmington 12/19
Dylan Tuschen #30
Lakers Find Their Spark, Stun Undefeated Farmington in Conference Opener
FARMINGTON, Minn. — After a tough loss to Edina and with questions swirling about consistency, rhythm, and resilience, Prior Lake walked into Farmington High School on December 19 facing an undefeated Tigers squad—and walked out with their most complete win of the young season.
And they did it with style.
A Big‑Game Atmosphere Meets a Sloppy Start
This matchup had juice. First conference game. Hostile road gym. Farmington unbeaten. And for the Lakers, the chance to prove exactly who they are becoming.
But the game certainly didn’t start like an 83–66 statement win.
Both teams struggled through a chaotic opening stretch—turnovers, rushed possessions, and shooting percentages that coaches would politely call “character‑building.” Even so, the Lakers struck first and struck fast, racing to a 19–7 lead behind energetic defense and quick-strike offense.
Farmington answered with a burst of their own to cut the margin to 21–19, but Prior Lake steadied, responding with a 6‑0 run to reclaim breathing room. With eight minutes left in the half, the Lakers looked ready to settle in.
Then the Tigers caught fire.
A flurry of threes, aggressive drives, and even a technical free throw flipped momentum. Farmington surged ahead—until Colten Gunderson muscled in a crucial late bucket to stop the run and send the Lakers into halftime down just 38–40.
For a half with that many twists, simply being within one possession felt like a win in itself. But the Lakers knew they needed to take control to turn this game on its head.
Second‑Half Spark Ignites a Lakers Breakthrough
Whatever halftime message was delivered, it landed perfectly.
Ian Wang blasted out of the locker room with an and‑1 finish to kick off a furious 10–0 Laker run. Just minutes into the half, Prior Lake had turned a two‑point deficit into a 48–40 lead—and Farmington never fully recovered.
Max Dubore took over the scoring column next, burying a three and slicing through the Tigers’ defense for a pair of layups. The ball movement—an early‑season point of emphasis—looked crisp, decisive, and purposeful. The defense tightened. The energy shifted.
Slowly, possession by possession, the Lakers built the lead to double digits.
Then came the knockout blows.
Back‑to‑back threes from Kolby Thompson and Drew Brinkman blew the gym doors open, pushing the lead to nearly 20 and sending the Prior Lake bench into celebration mode. Plays like Trey Theis flying in for a high-point rebound, then spinning into a left-hook touch shot built even more momentum. The team would combine solid defense with continued shot-making to keep the game out of reach for the Tigers. With 90 seconds left in the game, the Lakers were able to go deeper into the bench and enjoy the final moments of a breakthrough performance.
Final score: Prior Lake 83, Farmington 66.
Offensive Flow Returns — And It Shows
Coming off a game where rhythm was hard to find, the Lakers delivered their best offensive flow of the season:
Dubore led all scorers with 20 points and orchestrated the offense with a team‑high 7 assists.
Thompson added 14, including two key second‑half threes that stretched the lead.
Gunderson grounded the attack with 13 points inside and a team‑best 7 rebounds.
Wang and Cole Brinkman chipped in 9 apiece, with Wang also dishing 4 assists and grabbing 4 rebounds..
For a night that started unevenly, the Lakers finished with their most assists of the season, a sign that the offense may finally be turning the corner.
Defense Fuels the Breakthrough
While the offense drew oohs in the second half, the defense deserves equal credit. Prior Lake’s length, energy, and athleticism repeatedly frustrated Farmington’s shooters. The Tigers never found their outside rhythm, and the Lakers consistently limited possessions to a single shot.
Turnovers forced + one‑shot defense = momentum. And momentum = a runaway Laker victory.
Notably, Kobby Sam‑Brew—fighting illness all week—still found ways to contribute defensively and on the glass, grabbing three big rebounds in limited minutes.
Program‑Wide Success
It wasn’t just varsity leaving Farmington with smiles:
JV stayed undefeated with another strong win.
9A won a nail‑biter, 52–48.
9B battled to a 59–52 victory.
A great day for the Laker Hoops program.
What’s Next
Prior Lake heads to Chanhassen on December 22 for another key section matchup—an exciting way to roll into winter break. With momentum building, the offense clicking, and confidence growing, the Lakers are poised to stack wins as conference play ramps up.
And circle the calendar now: Farmington visits Prior Lake on February 6 for the rematch. After tonight’s battle, that showdown can’t come soon enough.