LORAIN — Sure, Avon Lake coach Eric Smith — and his doctor, for Smith’s blood pressure’s sake — would have liked Tuesday night’s game against Admiral King to be a little cushier.

But with the boys tournament starting next week, Smith still didn’t mind looking at the silver lining: a close game against an athletic team — like the Shoremen’s first-round opponent, Elyria — that kept the Shoremen out of their comfort zone and on their toes.

And an eventual win always helps, too.

Avon Lake failed to put away the pesky Admirals in the latter’s final home game as a standalone school — and Smith’s tie barely survived a questionable fourth-quarter call in a game full of them, against both teams — but the Shoremen eventually hit enough free throws for a 53-44 victory.

“We made it way, way harder than it needed to be,” Smith said. “We self-destructed a couple times, where they were able to get it close again. But we went on the road and got a win. We can’t simulate Elyria’s athleticism in practice, so this is a good prep game for us.”

The Shoremen (13-6) led by seven late in the first half and by as many as nine in the fourth quarter, but suffered breakdowns each time. King, behind two baskets from big man Jerome Golson, scored the final seven of the first half for a 24-all tie at the break; later, after Dom Whitfield opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a jumper to complete a 9-2 Shoremen run for a 40-31 lead, King scored 11 of the next 13 to tie it at 42 with 3:48 left.

Golson, who scored 14 in the game to lead King, again was key, scoring six in that stretch. Eric Stuczynski scored in the lane to end the run, and Avon Lake — while holding the Admirals to two points over the final 4 minutes — made 7 of 10 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

“This is a game that can give us experience for the tournament,” Stuczynski said. “If we play a fast-paced team like Admiral King, this will help us prepare for that type of game.”

Stuczynski, a sophomore, has taken some of the heat off Avon Lake leading scorer Ronnie Willoughby, who has been battling double teams nearly every game. Stuczynski scored 12 points in the second half and tied Willoughby for game honors with 17, and is averaging 15 over the Shoremen’s last four games.

For the Admirals (8-11), who lost two upperclassmen to academic ineligibility earlier this season and are playing an extremely young team, it was another tough loss. Coach Al Stacey dressed freshman Louis Cheers for his first varsity game, fearing foul trouble for his big men, Golson and Anton Chaney-Harris (10 points). Cheers scored his first varsity basket late in the third quarter.

“We’re young, and they’re emotional; that goes along with it,” Stacey said. “Sometimes you have to settle them down. Down the stretch, I think it’s experience talking.”

Avon Lake 53, Admiral King 44

AVON LAKE (53): T.J. Thompson 1-2-4, Ronnie Willoughby 7-1-17, Eric Stuczynski 6-4-17, Brandon Muck 2-0-4, Dom Whitfield 2-1-5, Trent Toy 2-2-6. Totals 20-10-53.

ADMIRAL KING (44): Theron Nelson 4-0-8, Jordan Carter 1-0-2, Pete Rufo 3-1-8, Anton Chaney-Harris 3-4-10, Jerome Golson 5-4-14, Louis Cheers 1-0-2. Totals 17-9-44.

Avon Lake 15 9 14 15 — 53

Admiral King 13 11 7 13 — 44

3-point goals: Avon Lake 3-14 (Willoughby 2, Stuczynski); Admiral King 1-8 (Rufo). Field goals: Avon Lake 20-46 (43.5 percent); Admiral King 17-45 (37.8 percent). Free throws: Avon Lake 10-16 (62.5 percent); Admiral King 9-21 (42.9 percent). Rebounds: Avon Lake 30, Admiral King 30. Turnovers: Avon Lake 16; Admiral King 18. Fouled out: Louis Mendez (King). Junior varsity: Avon Lake won in overtime.

Contact Joel Hammond at 329-7135 or hammond_joel@yahoo.com.

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