Orange Lions Tip Off Season with 50–38 Win Over Brooklyn at Great Lakes Classic

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH- The Orange Lions basketball team opened their season in strong fashion, claiming a 50–38 victory over Brooklyn in the Great Lakes Classic at Cleveland Heights. Powered by a standout performance from Alex McCulloch, who finished with 17 points and earned Tournament MVP honors. The Lions set a confident tone for the season ahead.

McCulloch came out firing, scoring 10 of his 17 points in the opening quarter and keeping Orange even with Brooklyn at 12–12 after one. The second quarter remained tight early, with both teams trading baskets through the first four minutes. But momentum shifted when the Lions closed the half on a 6–0 run, giving them a 28–23 advantage heading into the break.

Orange carried that spark into the third quarter, where Dillon Mathur knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to stretch the lead to 34–25. Brooklyn battled back with an 8–5 run to end the period, narrowing the margin to 39–33 and setting up a competitive final frame.

But in the fourth quarter, the Lions took control. Strong defense and timely scoring allowed Orange to maintain their lead and close out the game with authority, securing a double-digit season-opening win.

With balanced team play and McCulloch’s MVP performance, the Lions made a powerful first impression on the new campaign.

Wyatt Federer 1-0-0-2

Jaylhin Sheppard 4-1-4-10

Alex McCulloch 6-3-4-17

Dillon Mathur 4-0-0-12

Aaron Lewis 1-1-2-3

Jonah Marderstein 3-0-0-6