Through the first eight games of the season, the Lone Tree Lion boys’ basketball team (7-1 overall; 6-1 conference) leads the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division in points scored per game at 65.1

However, head coach Tom Squires is more impressed at how his team has conducted themselves the first half of the season on the defensive end of the floor, “We really didn’t give up 50 points in a game that many times.” Squires said, “I think coming into the season that was going to be a question mark for us.”

Lone Tree ranks third in the conference in defensive points allowed per game (49.25) and only gave up 60 or more points once this season (66 in win at Calamus Wheatland). A factor in the Lions’ stiff defensive play is their ability to create turnovers. The Lions collected 135 steals through eight games, 39 more than any other team in the conference.

Individually, Lone Tree is led in scoring by senior Nic Viner who is second in the SEISC North averaging 15 points per game in the first half of the season. Senior Matt Wieland is third in the conference in rebounding, collecting an average of 8.5 boards per game.

The Lion boys’ basketball team opens up 2015 play on Tuesday, January, 6 at home against the Iowa Mennonite School.