Lakeside struggled to separate from Batesville until D.J. McAfee settled into his sweet spot, scoring 13 of his game-high 26 points in the decisive third quarter Friday night.
McAfee sparked the 10-0 run that gained the foothold from which the Rams proceeded to win 58-41. Dominating inside, McAfee's six-of-nine shooting in the third quarter helped Lakeside to a 28-27 lead at the 4:19 mark, swelling to double digits midway through the fourth.
McAFee scored six of the 10 points in the decisive rally as Lakeside (2-4) beat back Batesville's hot second-half shooting. He added a leaner from the elbow to make it 32-27 with 3:04 to play in the quarter. Grant Webber's pull-up jumper rounded out the spurt, Webber and Weston Jolly each adding nine points.
Lakeside head coach Tommy White said McAfee found his rhythm once he brought his quickness, length and body control to bear in the paint, where he operates most efficiently.
"He's confident, and does a good job getting around people," White said. "Sometimes he wants to stay 10, 12, 15 feet from the basket. He can be effective from there from time to time, but his game his going to the basket. They really didn't have an answer for him."
McAfee was equally proficient in the fourth quarter, scoring his ninth and final basket of the second half on an acrobatic transition layup. A botched slam dunk represented his only miss in four fourth-quarter floor shots.
Batesville (3-5) had the range early in the second half, going three of five from three-point distance to lead 27-22. The Pioneers went 5-of-9 from deep in the second half, Kenton Crawford lining up two of his three triples in the third quarter and finishing with a team-high 15 points. Luke Davis hit two second half threes to finish with eight points.
Lakeside resumes play Saturday with an 8:30 p.m. tip against Little Rock Christian in the Spa City Shootout at Bank of the Ozarks Arena.
"They'll have a good club," White said. "We'll have to play well against them."
Batesville 6 12 14 9 -- 41
Lakeside 7 12 21 18 -- 58
Batesville: Crawford 15, Davis 8, Garner 6, Goodwin 6, Robinson 4, Langston 2.
Lakeside: McAfee 26, Jolly 9, Webber 9, Rice 5, Bland 3, Babb 2, Smith 2, Spakes 2.
Sports on 12/21/2014