Despite a strong start, the Mission Bulldogs couldn’t hold off a second-half surge from the Troy Trojans, falling 61-50 in the Western B Divisional Tournament in Hamilton on Friday, Feb. 28.

The Bulldogs came out strong, taking a 15-12 lead in the first quarter.

At halftime, Mission held a slim 28-24 advantage, but the momentum shifted drastically in the third quarter. Troy exploded for 26 points in the frame, led by Kemphton Sloan, who poured in 19 total points on the night. Nolan Morris (16 points) and Emerson Downey (14 points) also proved to be tough matchups for the Bulldogs.

Lex LaFrombois showcased his scoring ability, finishing with a game-high 23 points, including multiple big shots in the opening half. Jason Leishman added 15 points for Mission.

Mission struggled to find the same offensive rhythm in the second half, managing 22 total points after halftime. Vinny Shepard contributed eight points in the effort, surpassing the 200-point mark for the season.

The Bulldogs fought hard in the fourth quarter, but Troy’s steady execution at both ends sealed the victory.

Loyola takes down Mission

The top-seeded Loyola Rams proved why they’re one of the most dominant teams in Class B basketball, defeating Mission 88-25 in the opening round of the Western B Divisional Tournament last Thursday.

From the opening tip, Loyola dictated the tempo, racing out to a commanding 28-10 lead in the first quarter. Rey Johnston was unstoppable for the Rams, lighting up the scoreboard with a game-high 31 points.

Mission struggled against Loyola’s defensive pressure, managing just five points in the second quarter as the Rams extended their lead to 56-15 at halftime. LaFrombois once again led the Bulldogs in scoring, finishing with 14 points, but he had little support as Mission’s offense was stifled throughout the contest.

The Rams outscored Mission 19-6 in the third quarter and cruised through the fourth, closing out a dominant performance that solidified their status as tournament favorites.

For the Bulldogs, the lopsided loss was a tough pill to swallow, but they had little time to dwell on it as they prepared for a must-win matchup against Troy in the consolation bracket.

Mission finished the season 8-16 after coming into the divisional tournament with a No. 4 seed.

At Hamilton

LOYOLA 88, MISSION 25

Mission - 10 - 5 - 6 - 4 - 25

Loyola - 28 - 28 - 19 -13 - 88

MISSION SCORING: Lex Lafrombois 14, Jason Leishman, Macklen McDonald 2, Vinny Shepared 2, Harslon Leishman 2, Jake Helser 2

TROY 61, MISSION 50

Troy - 12 - 12 - 26 - 11 - 61

Mission - 15 - 13 - 11 - 11 - 50

MISSION SCORING: Lex LaFrombois 23, Jason Leishman 15, Vinny Shepard 8, Harlon Leishman 2, Jacob Piedalue 2