The Prior Lake boys basketball team saw its 12-game winning streak end Jan. 22 in a battle for first place in the South Suburban Conference.

Lakeville North scored 46 points in the first half, led by 16 and then held off the Lakers down the stretch for a 77-68 road victory.

Prior Lake dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in the Class 4A state poll with the loss, while the Panthers went from No. 6 to No. 5.

Prior Lake (12-2 overall, 6-1 in the SSC) is back on the league court Jan. 25 at Apple Valley and will return home Jan. 29 to take on Rosemount in SSC games at 7 p.m.

Lakers are at Shakopee Feb. 1 in a battle of Section 2AAAA foes at 7 p.m. Prior Lake beat the Sabers 74-63 back on Dec. 18 in SSC play.

In the loss to Lakeville North, the Lakers only had four players in the scoring column with senior Sam Nissen leading the way with 25 points. Junior Dawson Garcia chipped in 20 points.

Senior Robert Jones scored 13 for the Lakers, while junior Tyree Ihenacho had 10.

Prior Lake is one of five Section 2AAAA teams ranked in the top 10, along with No. 6 Shakopee, No. 8 Edina, No. 9 Eden Prairie and No. 10 Chaska. Other teams in the field are Minnetonka, Chanhassen and Bloomington Jefferson.

The Lakers have wins over Shakopee and Chaska in the section and will take on Jefferson at home Feb. 9.

The Section 2AAAA quarterfinals are still a way off, beginning March 6. The semifinals are March 9, and the title game is March 16 at a site still to be determined.

Prior Lake lost to Edina in the semifinals last year. Eden Prairie is the defending section champion.