UPDATE: Northeastern pulled out a 65-62 victory to officially end the streak, coming back from a seven-point third quarter deficit to earn the win. Read more about that game here.
Original post: Domination isn't a strong enough word to describe Red Lion's regular season performance in YAIAA Division I over the last several seasons. I'm going to go with dictatorial ruthlessness.
Opening this season with eight consecutive victories against divisional opponents, the Lions extended their regular-season winning streak to a remarkable 68 consecutive games. I could barely believe it myself and had to check the numbers twice, but that's exactly what our records show.
It goes beyond just the last four and half seasons. Since the start of the 2001-02 campaign, the Lions are 113-3 in the regular season. Take it back to 1993-94 and that mark is 229-25. Basically, the Lions have an historical pattern of rarely losing.
Tonight, Red Lion faces what it likely its toughest challenge of the current 68-game streak when it hosts undefeated Northeastern (14-0).
In addition to having two Division I-bound players in Amber and Autumn Lau (both headed to St. Francis in New York), the Bobcats returned four of their five starters from last years team that reached the second round of the PIAA tournament. The Lions, on the other hand, lost all five starters from last year's squad.
Like most seasons, the Lions (11-3) have still managed to get plenty of wins and have done it with defense. Giselle Truiett (above) has shined for the Lions this year as one of several reserves from last season that suddenly had more responsibility thrust upon them this season.
The Bobcats are tough to stop, especially with the offensive emergence of Jess King complementing the Lau sisters and the Lions will almost certainly need one of their best efforts of the season to continue the streak. It will also almost certainly need to be a low scoring game. With the home court advantage and so much success over the last few years it would be foolish to count out the Lions, but considering the opponent, it looks like Red Lion is an underdog tonight.
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