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Grace Lynch

Junior Joey Whitlock dribbles the ball. The Orioles have played five conference games so far this season.

Senior Mykal Howard’s missed three point attempt as the buzzer sounded ended the Park boys’ basketball team’s 59-57 loss to Benilde St. Margaret’s Jan. 31, a game where the Orioles lost a halftime lead.

Head coach Dave Breitenbucher said the loss, which moves the team’s record to 7-9, was frustrating.

“We lost a game tonight that we should’ve won. I think the guys are frustrated and the coaches are frustrated, everybody’s frustrated,” Breitenbucher said. “We can’t dwell on it. We have to look forward, but we should’ve won this one.”

Benilde and Park’s conference records are now both 2-3.

Senior forward Jack Lynch said he feels disappointed with the team’s loss because the players expected to win against Benilde.

“I don’t think we played very well. Benilde is the team we should beat,” Lynch said. “I think as a team we played flat and didn’t execute very well. There were times we could have pushed our lead further.”

The game was tied with 11 seconds remaining, but Benilde sank two free throws in the final seconds.

Howard’s three pointer at the buzzer hit the rim and missed.

Breitenbucher said the team played with high energy during certain periods of the game.

“I thought at times we played with pretty good intensity. I think there was about five or six minute stretch in the first half where I actually thought we played really good defense,” Britenbucher said. “We were bluffing the ball and getting back; we did not allow dribble penetration.”

Senior forward Josiah Morrow said the team did not play its best against Benilde. Park shot 23 of 53, for a 44 percent field goal percentage, according to the Star Tribune’s Minnesota Basketball Hub.

“We were well prepared for the game but I don’t think we performed the way we usually perform. We missed a lot of shots that we normally make,” Morrow said. “I would just say we had a bad shooting night; it’s every now and then.”

Breitenbucher said his team needs to improve its ball security and transition game. Park has averaged 11.7 turnovers per game, according to the Star Tribune.

“Every time the shot goes up we have to have our second team hitting the boards so we’re boxing out. We have to work on running more solid possessions — we had a few turnovers tonight. Our transition game was poor, we have to work on full court transition, there are so many things,” Breitenbucher said.

The team’s next game takes place at 7 p.m Feb. 3 at Robbinsdale Cooper High School against Robbinsdale Cooper.