ATLANTA — All good things come to an end, and Lambert’s debut boys lacrosse season was no exception.

The No. 1 Longhorns hung tough through most of their Class A-AAAA semifinal game at Lovett Wednesday, but Bo Anderson helped the No. 4 Lions pull away down the stretch and claim a 13-9 win.

“We knew this was going to be tough, and our kids played well. I think our youth showed up at times, but you know what, we didn’t quit and that was the biggest thing for us,” Lambert coach Rich Wehman said following his team’s
defeat to the three-time state champion Lions.

“We’re incredibly proud of the boys and the season that they had and the way that they finished it. You know, they could have folded a couple times and they didn’t, so it’s been a great year.”

The game was back and forth in the first quarter, with four ties and three lead changes resulting in a 4-4 draw after 12 minutes.

Lovett (14-6) took a measure of control in the second quarter, scoring three straight to open up a lead.

Adam Seal put a ball in with 3:24 left in the period, pulling the Longhorns (18-2) to within 7-5 at the half.

In a busy third quarter, Lambert scored three of the period’s final four goals, closing the lead to 10-9 heading to the final stanza.

The Longhorns controlled the ball through much of the fourth period’s first six minutes, but were unable to come up with the tying goal.

With Lovett finally getting a chance around the net — a rarity for the Lions during the quarter to that point — Anderson (five goals) came up with a big score, putting the home team up 11-9 with 6:08 to play.

Down by two with time running out, Lambert had to play a more open style and Anderson scored twice more in the final two minutes.

In addition to Anderson, Corey Palmer (three), Ken Goins (two) and Carson Cray (two) all had multiple goals for the Lions.

Lambert was led by Seal’s four goals.

With no seniors attending Lambert this year, the entire Longhorn squad should be back for another run next spring.

Wehman said the young Longhorns showed they were for real with the gutty road performance, taking on a team that
has won the state lacrosse title in three of the first five years the sport has staged a championship.

“I think coming into this game, there was still a lot of debate about whether we were for real or not and I think if people don’t see that for themselves, then we’re not really worried about it.

“But I think [we sent a message], I really do,” the coach said.

“When you really kind of take a step back and look at what these guys did as youthful as they are, it really is incredible what they did. ... It’s just been unbelievable what these kids have accomplished and we told them today they need to walk out of here with a smile on their face and their heads high.”