FALCONS FLY AWAY IN THE 4TH AGAINST DRAGONS
Photo Credit: Joclyn Nicholas Photography
Jefferson, OH — The Jefferson Falcons improved to 4-0 with a 60-49 victory over the Lakeside Dragons on December 18 at Jefferson High School. The Falcons’ balanced scoring and strong second-half performance were key in their win over the winless Dragons, who fell to 0-3.
Jefferson started strong with a 17-16 lead after the first quarter, propelled by the efforts of Luis Padilla and Anthony Covetta. Padilla was a standout for the Falcons, leading all scorers with 20 points, while Covetta contributed 19 points, including clutch baskets in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Lakeside kept pace through the first half, matching Jefferson’s 13 points in the second quarter to head into halftime trailing by just one, 30-29. The Dragons were led by Jason Lopez, who tallied 16 points, including four three-pointers, and Jarez Osborne, who scored 17 points with a mix of mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket.
The turning point came in the third quarter when Jefferson outscored Lakeside 15-10, as Padilla continued to attack the basket with precision and George Dzura and Terry Brown added key contributions. Lakeside struggled to maintain their offensive rhythm in the second half, managing just 20 points across the final two quarters.
Jefferson maintained their advantage in the fourth quarter, holding the Dragons to another 10-point effort while matching their own third-quarter output of 15 points. The Falcons’ defense tightened, and their composure at both ends of the floor allowed them to close out the game.
Other key contributors for Jefferson included Dzura with 7 points, Brown with 8 points, and Joel Navarro with 6 points. For Lakeside, Paul Siler and David Pinson each chipped in 5 points, while Luis Flores and Tristian Westerfield rounded out the scoring with 4 and 2 points, respectively.
The Falcons will look to extend their perfect record at the Harbor Creek Christmas Tournament against the Marion Harding Presidents on December 27. The Dragons, still searching for their first win, will also play on December 27, traveling to face the Bedford Bears.
