KENNEBUNK — Lake Region hit six 3-pointers in the opening quarter to take a 30-16 lead and it looked like the visiting Lakers would cruise to a win over Kennebunk.

That wasn’t the case as the host Rams gave the Lakers all they could handle. Kennebunk would cut the lead to four late in Tuesday night’s clash, but it wasn’t enough as Lake Region held on for a 78- 71 win.

“Tough first quarter, they hit every shot we gave them the opportunity to hit … but you know what, when you give up 30 points in a quarter, don’t quit, keep working, and (in the) fourth quarter, we were in it,” said Kennebunk coach Barrett Belanger.

Belanger was proud of his team’s effort against a tough Lake Region squad.

“That was the toughest, heartful performance Kennebunk has had in years, I think,” said Belanger.

The Rams got a huge 24-point performance from Travon Bradford, who was able to use his 6-foot-7 frame to dominate the low post.

“He came to play,” said Belanger of Bradford. “We saw the mismatch, we got their big in foul trouble and typically we rely on Zach (MacKinnon) or Cam (Lovejoy) and tonight we said, ‘get the ball to Travon and let him go.’”

Following the rough opening quarter, the Rams used six points from Bradford and five from MacKinnon to outscore the Lakers 19-15 in the second, which cut the lead to 10 at the break.

The Lakers were able to get Bradford in foul trouble in the third quarter, which sent the big man to the bench for the final half of the period. Lake Region would take advantage and pushed the lead to 59-42 heading into the fourth.

The Rams came storming back in the fourth – once again thanks to Bradford and MacKinnon, who finished the game with 20 points.

Bradford put up nine points in the period, while MacKinnon hit four 3- pointers on his way to a 14-point quarter.

“He’s been known, fourth quarter, he just always seems to answer,” said Belanger of MacKinnon. “So, when he gets rolling, that got us back into it and we were trying to set up plays to get him the ball.”

Kennebunk, which cut the lead to four with under a minute left, would outscore the Lakers 26-18 in the final quarter, but it just wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

The Lakers were led by Marcus DeVoe with 20 points. Nate Smith and Jackson Lesure finished with 18 points each in the victory.

Lake Region coach John Mayo was happy to leave Kennebunk with a tough road win.

“It’s good for us down the road to have to play close games when it’s tight and make the free throws count,” said Mayo, who has his team at 13-2 and on top of the Class B South standings. “That’s what we need right now, (to) play good teams and have to go and find some adversity so we can fight through it.”

The Rams currently sit at 8-7 and in the ninth and final Class A South playoff spot with three games to play. Belanger believes Tuesday night’s game proves that his team could be dangerous when it comes time for the postseason.

“I think we are becoming a confident team, so if we get in, I think we are a team that can certainly pull an upset just because we are starting to play so hard at the right time,” said Belanger.

Kennebunk will host Marshwood (7-7) on Friday night in a key Class A South clash.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.