ESTHERVILLE — The Estherville Lincoln Central boys basketball team kept pace with Lake Mills for while, but the Bulldogs proved to have too much fire power in the end.

Lake Mills (7-2) converted seven 3-pointers in the first half in building a 39-30 lead. While the Bulldogs limited their 3-point shooting in the second half, their offense found some easy baskets to pull away in the fourth quarter for a 69-51 victory.

“I think we just got beat by a better team,” said ELC coach Joey Grau. “They were a better school team. I think they’ve played a lot of ball in the summer.”

ELC led 4-2 early after baskets by Matt Gruhlke and Collin Klingbeil, but the Bulldogs hit two quick 3-pointers to take the lead.

ELC retook the lead with a 3-pointer by Caleb Caboth and two free throws by Matt Gruhlke and then a basket by Stangl gave ELC an 11-8 edge.

Again the Bulldogs score five quick points.

ELC’s last lead came when Gruhlke knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 15-13, but again the Bulldogs knocked down two more 3-pointers.

The Midgets were trailing 23-18 after Scott Schmidt made 1-of-2 free throws, but Schmidt rebounded his miss and Fandel hit a wide open 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 23-21.

“I thought our patients was better tonight,” said Grau.

ELC couldn’t get its offense running in the second quarter as the Bulldogs opened with an 1-0 run.

Kyle Grems finally broke the drought which was followed by a baseline jumper and 3-pointer play by Caleb Caboth to keep the lead in single digits at 37-28.

The two teams traded baskets to end the half with Lake Mills on top 39-30.

ELC played even with the Bulldogs most of the third quarter, but the Bulldogs stretched their advantage to 12, 55-43, to start the final frame.

Gruhlke hit the first basket of the fourth quarter to get the deficit back to 10, but the Bulldogs went on a 14-2 run to put the game out of reach.

Gruhlke led ELC with 14 points while Stangl ended with nine.

ELC (1-5) travels to Cherokee tonight.

Lake Mills 69, ELC 51

ELC (51) – Matt Juhl 0 0-0 0; Keith Fandel 2 0-0 5; Matt Gruhlke 5 2-4 14; Caleb Caboth 2 1-1 5; Philip Roach 0 0-0 0; Scott Schmidt 0 1-2 1; Collin Klingbeil 2 0-0 4; Alex Arends 2 0-0 4; Kyle Grems 3 0-0 6; Marcus Stangl 4 1-2 9; Aaron Andrews 0 0-0 0.

Halftime score — Forest City 39, ELC 30. 3-pointers – 3 (Gruhlke 2, Fandel). Rebounds – n/a. Assists -n/a. Steals – n/a. Blocked Shots – n/a. Turnovers – 15. Total Fouls – 12. Fouled Out – none. Technical Fouls – none.