RYAN GULLIKSON of Fryeburg Academy attempts a shot against Laker Nick Wandishin. (Rivet Photo)
RAIDERS (41)
Jonathan Burk 7-2-16, Ben Darling, Ben Southwick 5-0-10, Ryan Gullikson 5-0-10, Cody Gullikson 2-0-5, Nicholis L’Heureux-Carland, Henry Santana.
3-Pointers: C. Gullikson
Turnovers: 19
FT: 2-of-8
FG: 19-of-46
Rebounds: 26, Burk 11, Southwick 2, R. Gullikson 5, C. Gullikson 3, L’Heureux-Carland 1, Santana 4
LAKERS (32)
Marcus DeVoe, Nick Hall 3-2-8, Alex Langadas 1-0-2, Jackson Lesure, Brandon Palmer, Quinn Piland 1-2-4, Nate Smith 6-0-13, Tyler Walker, Nicholas Wandishin 1-3-5.
3-Pointers: Smith
Turnovers: 20
FT: 7-of-7
FG: 12-of-42
Rebounds: 24, DeVoe 2, Hall 3, Langadas 1, Lesure 6, Palmer 1, Piland 1, Smith 5, Walker 1, Wandishin 4

By Wayne E. Rivet
Staff Writer
When his team shot 1-for-10 and fell behind 11-2 after the first quarter, Fryeburg Academy Coach Sedge Saunders was confident his Raiders would snap out of their funk.
When his team shot 3-of-21 and saw a 21-18 halftime lead disappear, Lake Region Coach J.P. Yorkey could only look on in frustration and bewilderment as Fryeburg Academy swept the season series Tuesday night with a 41-32 victory at Nutting Gymnasium.
The Lakers saw their three-game win streak snapped because they were unable to solve FA’s zone defense, which resulted in too many shots clanging off the iron or when they were able to get inside the lane, too many passes whizzed through open players’ hands and out of bounds.
Meanwhile, the Raiders found their offensive rhythm, taking what the Lakers were giving them. While LR defenders managed to keep junior guard Ryan Gullikson well off his season scoring average by holding the dynamic playmaker to just 10 points, Fryeburg received a monster game inside from senior center Jonathan Burk, who scored a game-high 16 points to go along with 11 rebounds.
“We wanted to get out and run a little bit because we’re more effective in transition and I thought we are able to do this because of our defense and rebounding. We also wanted to get the ball inside and I thought we did a pretty nice job of doing that and then finding the cutters or the open guys on the perimeter when Lake Region collapsed (its defense),” Coach Saunders said. “Defensively, we thought we could pressure a little bit and double (LR point guard Jackson) Lesure when it was convenient for us. I thought our guards were solid pressuring the ball and our backline did a nice job of stunting and rotating down on penetration.”
Lake Region (5-3) was sharp in the first eight minutes, ripping off the first 11 points behind Nate Smith, who scored on a soft inside jumper and a 3-pointer. The LR defense forced seven FA turnovers, and held the Raiders to just 1-of-10 shooting. Gullikson saved FA from a first period shutout by converting a turnover into a fastbreak layup with 37.2 seconds left in the quarter.
Jackson Lesure continued his fine play as LR’s floor general, setting up some easy hoops with quick, sharp passes to Nick Hall and Alex Langadas as the Lakers opened up a 21-12 lead with 3:09 left in the half.
But, the Raiders stormed back as the defense forced turnovers resulting into quick hoops the other way, including a fastbreak layup by Ben Southwick in the closing seconds to bring Fryeburg back, trailing 21-18 at the break.
Although both squads failed to protect the ball well in the third quarter — each committing eight turnovers — Fryeburg hit its stride as Burk scored two hoops off hustle offensive rebounds, and Gullikson picked a Laker’s pocket resulting in a fastbreak hoop for a 24-23 Raider lead with 3:28 left in the quarter.
Lake Region’s offense sputtered as the team hoisted just eight shots in the quarter, and had just two field goals — a baseline one-hand floater by Smith and a strong drive to the iron by Nick Wandishin, resulting in a three-point play.
Three straight layups by Southwick (2) and Gullikson pushed the FA lead to six, but Wandishin’s hoop with 1.5 seconds left closed the gap to FA 30, LR 28.
LR’s shooting woes spilled over to the final eight minutes as the team managed just a Wandishin score to start the frame. From that point on, the Lakers were 0-for-12 while failing to put up any points until Nick Hall broke the drought with a pair of foul shots with 2:13 left in the game and his team down 41-32. Lesure went scoreless on the night despite some good looks at the hoop.
“We were a bit impatient at times and the excessive contact on the shot that wwas permitted prevented us from getting to the free-throw line like we usually do,” Laker Coach J.P. Yorkey said. “In our last three games, we had 35, 25 and 18 free throw attempts, respectively. We had seven in this game (we made them all). We weren’t scoring and able to set up our press, which has been successful for us in generating offense. I also think that Fryeburg’s set defense is good. They play it well.”
Fryeburg scored all but one hoop — an uncontested three-pointer from the right corner by Cody Gullikson — inside the lane, including two reverse layups. If Coach Saunders had one concern, it was his team’s 0-for-3 effort at the foul line in the closing minute.
“I thought our guys did a nice job of just playing basketball, reading the defense and making the appropriate plays,” Coach Saunders said. “We feel very fortunate beating Lake Region twice and it will certainly come in handy as far as the Heal points are concerned in this very congested Western Maine Class B.”
The coach also liked how players elevated their games despite the poor start.
“Ryan (Gullikson) was a little under the weather, but he was poised and did not force the ball. I thought Cody (Ryan’s brother) did a nice job of playing floor general at times,” Coach Saunders said. “Obviously, Jonathan (Burk) had a really exceptional game, especially on the interior.”
In reviewing game video footage, Coach Yorkey saw some things that he liked and others that will be corrected.
“The turnovers in the first half were from poor passes by our perimeter players and good anticipation by the Fryeburg players,” the coach said. “We’ve identified a bad habit that we will rectify. The guys did the job defensively. They held Fryeburg to 41 points, that should be enough to win. Ryan (Gullikson) has not scored less than 20 points this season, he scored 10 (tonight). We missed some rotations, but overall, our set defense was good. Their first seven points came in transition off steals.”
Next: The Raiders (5-3) travel to Falmouth tonight, Jan. 8 for a 7 p.m. game and host Poland on Saturday at 7. Next week, FA travels to Gray-New Gloucester on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. game.
Lake Region travels to Freeport tonight, Jan. 8 for a 7 p.m. game and heads to Gray-New Gloucester Saturday for a 7 p.m. game. Next week, the Lakers host Waynflete on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Pitching In. Lake Region Athletic Director Paul True thanked fans attending the Laker-Poland quad night Saturday for their generosity to help a local family.
The Milton family of Naples lost their home and belongings to fire during the holidays. To help out, LR waived the game entry fee and asked fans to donate “whatever amount” to assist the Miltons.
After the third quarter of the boys’ game, True presented Laker senior Steve Milton, who played on the varsity football team along with his brother Erick, a freshman, with a check for $1,353.