The game was tied at 40 late in the third quarter and the Scots were within five to seven points on several occasions in the final frame before Granger finished on a 12-4 run.

“It got away from us a little bit, but really the game was a lot closer than it was. We were only down nine at halftime. The score was really deceiving,” Ben Lomond coach Lyndon Johnson said. “No matter; today we had a chance for sure. The kids played hard. We turned it (over) too much. We didn’t make shots we normally make.

“Those kids are good shooters and they’ll make them as the season goes, they just didn’t make them right now,” Johnson said.

One notable exception to the shooting woes was Ben Lomond senior guard Cole Parkinson, who filled up the nets with 27 points.

“I like to play the right way. Listen to my coaches and run the system. (Johnson) knows what’s best for me, so if I do what he says, I’m going to succeed,” Parkinson said. “It worked out for me; I hit the shots tonight.”

Consistent through all four quarters, with six, nine, seven and five points, Parkinson put on a flashy display, including a trio of 3-pointers and six traditional two-point buckets for the game.

“I’m always looking next possession; always going my hardest. If they don’t get a hand up, I’m shooting it,” Parkinson said. “If I’ve got space, I’m letting it fly because I’m confident in that 3-point shot.”

In addition to his field goal prowess, Parkinson displayed a deft touch from the free-throw line, splashing 6 of 6 attempts.

“I always make sure of the same routine every time, down to every little detail. I know if I do that, I’m going to make it,” Parkinson added.

Two games into the season, defense has been a problem for the Scots (0-2), as they gave up 85 in a first-game loss to Park City, then the 69 on Friday.

“We probably weren’t where we should have been,” Johnson said. “It’s the second game of the year; some guys made shots that usually don’t. Some guys missed shots they usually make. That’s the bottom line right there.”

Benson Turcsanski and Zephaniah Willford scored 20 points apiece for Granger (1-1), and Will Tidwell tallied 15.

For Ben Lomond, senior guard Taggart Bush also notched double digits with 13 points and Cooper Pitcher came off the bench to score seven.

Granger led 12-8 after one quarter and 32-23 at the break before the Scots rallied in the third period, tying it at 40-40 with 1:59 remaining.

“We felt like we were still in the game and were not going to give up,” Parkinson said. “We were going to go out there and press and make it hell for them.”

Bush scored three straight baskets in the paint to knot it up, but the Lancers then went on a 12-2 run that lasted into early in the fourth quarter, retaking the lead 52-42.

“We used a lot of energy to get back to even, but it is what it is,” Parkinson said. “Transition defense … we weren’t getting back enough; not staying with our man led to them getting away with it.”

The Pepsi Classic returned this year after an absence of over a decade, under first-year coach Johnson.

“With the support of principal (Velden) Wardle and athletic director (Kable) Smith, we brought it back. Pepsi is important to our community and they help us. There were seven teams this year,” Johnson said. “Eventually, we want to get eight teams and make it a real tournament where there are brackets. That’s the goal. Hopefully we can do that next year.”

Northridge, Roy, Cedar, Emery, Granger and North Sanpete joined Ben Lomond in this year’s field.

Interestingly, it was the tournament format that caused the Scots to run out of gas, after their press pulled them even in the third quarter. They took their foot off the pedal and Granger regained control.

“We have two games (back-to-back) and we couldn’t full-court press like we would most of the time. Once we got pressure going, we changed the game,” Johnson said. “If we only played today, we would have full-court pressed the whole game. Going forward, we’ll do that, starting Tuesday.”