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The Lyle-Pacelli boys basketball team came out with a strong start, but offensive struggles caught up to the Athletics as they lost to Kingsland 63-44 in Pacelli Gym Monday.

L-P took an early 18-11 lead after a steal and lay-up by Landon Meyer, but the Knights (4-0 overall) answered with a 13-0 run to go up 24-18 and L-P never tied or took the lead again.

Andrew Fredrick hit a three to bring L-P within 34-26 in the second half, but the Athletics couldn’t find a consistent offensive rhythm.

“That’s us to a T. We can’t put a full game together,” L-P head coach Carl Truckenmiller said. “We had a lot of turnovers, not too many threes and we missed some close shots. We’re going through some growing pains and this team doesn’t have a lot of varsity experience.”

Landon Meyer led L-P with 22 points and seven rebounds and Dylan Christianson added nine points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.

“We’re capable and we’ve just got to get over the hump,” Truckenmiller said. “I don’t know if we’re complacent and then we just try to shoot our way back into it or what.”

L-P (5-4 overall) has already logged in nine games early in the season, but now the Athletics will get a two week stretch to regroup as their next game is against Spring Grove in Pacelli at 7:15 p.m. on Jan. 4.

“Maybe we do need some more practice,” Truckenmiller said. “We only play six or seven guys and it can be tough on the legs. It could be nice to get some rest.”

L-P went 4-for-23 on three-pointers and it committed 16 turnovers in the loss.

Lyle-Pacelli scoring: Landon Meyer, 22; Dylan Christianson, 9; Andrew Fredrick, 6; Chase Bauer, 5; Isaac Small, 2