Levitt, Johnson spark Patriots' defense

Stevenson junior Jeff Levitt played through a migraine and fellow junior Nate Johnson provided a headache for Lake Park in the battle for the consolation championship at the 31st Wildcat Hardwood Classic on Saturday night.

Levitt was his usual stingy self on defense with 6 steals to go along with 5 assists and Johnson chipped in with a game-high 16 points, as Stevenson won a defensive slugfest 36-28.

"I tell you what, Jeff Levitt was a warrior tonight," said Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose. "He played through a bad migraine all day and he just gutted it out for us, and Nate was just terrific."

While Levitt was wearing down the Lancers on the defensive end, Johnson was doing it on both ends of the floor. Tasked with guarding the Lancers leading scorer, Danny Baylis, Johnson held one of the top scorers in the tournament to just 4 points and 1 field goal.

"On defense I knew that I was guarding one of their best guys and that I had to give it my all," Johnson said. "On offense I just tried to pick my spots and use my energy there when I could."

Stevenson (6-5) used its defense to ignite its offense at the end of the first half. The Patriots outscored Lake Park 6-2 over the final three minutes of the first half to take an 18-15 advantage.

"We just aren't going to win many games when we shoot that way," Lake Park coach Cray Allen said. "We just couldn't hit a big shot tonight at all."

Buckets to start the third quarter from Johnson and Jeff Arenson (5 points) built Stevenson's lead to its biggest at 22-15. Eventually the margin got to as many as eight before the Lancers made their only big run of the game.

Lake Park (5-8) outscored Stevenson 7-2 to end the third quarter and start the fourth to pull within 31-28 with 4:08 to go. But the Stevenson defense simply wouldn't relent in the final minutes.

"Our message tonight was pretty much like it always is - play harder," Ambrose said. "On defense our kids are to the point where they get mad when the other team scores."

Matt Drufke led the Lancers with 9 points.