The Lakeland women's basketball team played host to the Edison State Chargers today with a conference championship and a bid to Districts on the line. If Edison had won, they would be conference champs and heading to District play; if the Lakers won, they would be the champions and headed to the post-season. The Chargers had beaten the Lakers earlier this season in Piqua, but the Lakers have since righted the ship. Today, the Lakers gutted out one of their most complete games of the year for a hard-fought 71-68 victory. Lakeland finished their regular season with an overall record of 13-8 and 9-3 in conference play. With the win, the Lakers finished their season strong winning 6 in a row and 7 of 8. Going into the game, it was predicted to be a tight hard-fought game, and it didn't disappoint. The Chargers would jump out to an early 8-2 lead 3 minutes into the game before Lauren Perry connected on a 10-foot jumper to make the score 8-4. After an Edison miss, Batoul Khaleefah would get fouled and connect on both free throws to draw the Lakers closer. On the Chargers next possession, Monica Devine would block a shot before Perry was fouled. Perry sank both free throws and just like that the score was tied at 8 with just over 5 minutes to play in the quarter. The two teams would go back and forth until Trinity Jackson sank a 6-foot jumper at the buzzer to give the Lakers a 17-15 edge after one quarter. In the second quarter, the Lakers would build an early 9 point lead. Khaleefah would sink a 3-pointer to put the Lakers up 20-18 with 8:20 to play. Edison would then miss their next shot before Trinity Jackson buried a 3-pointer from the corner to extend the lead to 23-18. Following another Charger miss, there was a long pass to Perry who was drawing the defender. As the ball got to Perry, she one-timed the pass to Mya James who scored the layup to increase the Laker lead to 27-18. After a Charger three, Layla Von Berndt would make a layup to make the score 29-21. After a Charger basket, Mya James drained a deep 3-pointer and the Lakers led 32-23 with under 5 minutes to play in the quarter. The Lakers would then miss a couple of shots, have a turnover, and get called for a charge allowing Edison to climb back into the game and take the lead at 35-34 going into the break.
In the 3rd quarter, the teams traded punches throughout. Neither team was able to get a lead of more than two points the entire quarter as both teams continued to answer the others baskets. The quarter's last basket was scored by Lauren Perry who drained a 12-foot jumper to knot the score at 55 at the end of the period. The stage was set for an epic 4th quarter with a conference championship on the line. After a Charger basket, Batoul Khaleefah sank a 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 58-57 lead with 9 minutes to play. Edison would answer with a layup before the teams took turns missing shots and turning the ball over. With 6:43 remaining, Perry would make a layup to regain the Laker lead at 60-59. After a Charger turnover, Mya James would score on a driving layup to make the score 62-59. After an Edison miss, Khaleefah would feed James for another layup and a 64-59 Laker lead. The Chargers would turn the ball over and the Lakers would miss and foul before Edison hit 1-2 free throws to make the score 64-60 with 4:55 to play. Both teams would miss shots before Edison scored again bringing them within 2 points. Following another Laker miss, Edison would score again to tie the game at 64. On Lakeland's next possession, Trinity Jackson would nail a jumper to regain the Laker lead at 66-64. Following an Edison miss, Jackson would make a basket and get fouled. On the same play, the Lakers were whistled for a technical foul. Jackson would miss the free throw before the Chargers hit both technical free throws to cut the Lakers lead to 2 points, 68-66, with under 2 minutes to play in the game. Both teams were unable to convert on their next possessions and the score remained 68-66 with under a minute to play. On Lakeland's next possession, they were trying to run the clock down as Batoul Khaleefah was handling the ball out front. As time wound down, Khaleefah drove the lane hard and scored a layup to give the Lakers a 70-66 lead with 22 seconds to play. On Edison's next possession, Lakeland fouled and Edison sank both free throws to trim the lead to 70-68 with 19 seconds to play. The Lakers advanced the ball on a timeout and then inbounded to Khaleefah. As the Chargers tried to foul Khallefah, they left Layla Von Berndt open under the basket. Khallefah fed Von Berndt who was fouled. Von Berndt sank 1-2 free throws and the Chargers were unable to connect on a desperation three as time expired.
The Lakers had a very balanced scoring attack as five different players finished with double digits. Lauren Perry was the high scorer for Lakeland finishing with 18 points. Both Mya James and Trinity Jackson finished their afternoons with 15 points. Batoul Khaleefah and Monica Devine each added 10 points while Layla Von Berndt chipped in 3 points in the Laker win.
Gardy's Gab: "I'm so proud of the team. We played with a lot of heart. Edison got us pretty good at their place and to be able to take that challenge on along with the knowledge of a possible conference championship and District bid all on the line - I'm just so happy and proud of them. We embraced the challenge and it was a great team win. We will enjoy this today and then start getting ready for District play - we have a great challenge and opportunity ahead of us."
Next Up: The Lakers have qualified for District play and will play next Thursday (3/7) in the semi-finals of the Great Lakes Region play-off. The time and opponent have not been set yet and details will be released next week. If the Lakers win on Thursday, they will advance to the finals on Saturday with a birth to nationals on the line. Both games will be at Mott Community College in Flint, MI.
