Jai Jester’s four consecutive free throws with under 50 seconds to play helped the Lakeside Vikings stave off a furious Chamblee Bulldog rally for a 64-59 victory in the country rivalry at Lakeside on Tuesday night.

Lakeside (7-13) had lost a tough 51-49 decision to the Bulldogs (9-13) back on December 4th at Chamblee, but Joe Helenbrook’s fifth three-pointer of the night and a layup by Nate Kennedy had the Vikings looking for an easy win to even the season series leading 58-35 with 5:58 to play.

The Bulldogs decided they weren’t going away easy putting together a 21-1 run to pull within 59-56 on Zachary Mackson’s two free throws with 1:05 to play.

Eric Smith started the run by draining a three deep from the left wing with 5:40 to play and followed up a Mackson free throw with another long three to cut the lead to 58-42 at the 4:57 mark.

Mackson, who scored 14 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, scored the next five points before Smith hit his third trey in a span of two minutes and 52 seconds to make it a single digit deficit with the Bulldogs trailing 58-50.

Nate Kennedy went one for two at the free-throw line with 2:48 to play as the Vikings finally broke the 15-0 run by Chamblee.

Mackson came on to hit four of six free throws to go with a layup to close the gap to 59-56 with 1:05 left in the game.

Jester was fouled after the Bulldogs missed a three-pointer with 49.5 seconds and converted both ends of a one-plus the bonus to up the lead to 61-56.

A charging call on the Bulldogs gave Lakeside the ball back and Jester was fouled again. He stepped up and converted another two free throws in a one-plus the bonus opportunity to make it 63-56 with 39.9 seconds to play.

Smith hit another three-pointer, his fourth in the quarter, to cut it to a four-point game at 63-59 with 34 seconds remaining.

Will Skuban hit one of two free throws to make the final of 64-59 as the Bulldogs could pull no closer.

Joe Helenbrook finished with 19 points to lead the Vikings and Jai Jester who had three three-pointers of his won ended the game with 13 points.

Mackson’s game-high 26 points led he Bulldogs while Eric Smith added 12 points and Rodney Smith 10.

(G) Lakeside 44, Chamblee 37
The Lakeside Lady Vikings hit six of 10 free throws in the final 1:12 of their rivalry game with the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs for a 44-37 victory to sweep the season series in the night’s opening game at Lakeside on Tuesday.

Jasmine Redo’s layup on an assist by Sara Van Horn gave Lakeside a 38-28 lead with 4:27 to play in the game.

Chamblee’s Trinity Edwards hit a three-pointer to start a 6-0 run to close the gap to 38-34. Edwards had a drive to the basket for another goal and Serena Robinson hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to four points with 1:12 to play.

Olivia Cohen sank two free throws and Kiara Jackson hit one of two from the line to up the margin to seven (41-34) with 51.8 seconds to play.

Robinson hit another free throw for Chamblee and Edwards sank two more to once again pull the Lady Bulldogs within four at 41-37 with 23.2 seconds left in the game.

Cohen hit one of four at the line and Emyah Fortenberry’s two made free throws with a second to play sealed the 44-37 win.

Kiara Jackson finished with a game-high 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Lady Vikings (15-5). Emyah Fortenberry hit for only four points, but collected 11 rebounds as the Lady Vikings out-rebounded Chamblee 47-28 in the game.

Trinity Edwards hit for 18 points to lead Chamblee (5-14) and Serena Robinson finished with 13 points and 9 rebounds.