WestChesterBuzz.com

Lakota West became the fourth and final varsity basketball team from the Lakota school district to be eliminated from postseason play when it lost by the score of 58-55 to Turpin in a sectional semifinal game in the Division I state basketball tournament Wednesday.

Lakota West's Tyler Williams reacts going into a timeout against Fairfield during a basketball game Jan. 24, 2012. Photo taken by Jeff Swinger.

Helping Turpin hold on was junior guard Connor Grotten, who made a pair of free throws to push the lead to three points with three seconds remaining. Prior to the foul shots, senior forward Adam Boyer blocked a potential game-winning layup by the Firebirds on the other end of the floor.

“They’re a really good team and this win validates what we thought of our team all season,” Turpin coach Brad Cupito told The Cincinnati Enquirer. “We knew we were one of the top teams in the area and are thankful there’s a tournament format that allows us to prove it.”

Turpin sophomore Zach McCormick may have proved to be one of the area’s top sophomores, after finishing with a game-high 23 points. During the season, McCormick averaged 18.7 points per game. According to Rivals.com, he already has a scholarship offer from Duquesne.

Meanwhile, Lakota West junior Monty Boykins led his team with 16 points. Boykins also has an offer from Duquesne, as well as offers from Eastern Michigan, James Madison, Kennesaw State and Miami (Ohio).

His teammates, junior Ali Barnes and sophomore Tyler Williams, also helped the Firebirds keep the game close. Barnes scored 13, while Williams finished with 14.

The loss eliminates the season for the Firebirds, who finish the year with a 15-7 overall record and a 11-3 mark within the Greater Miami Conference. The 15 wins equals the program’s best since the 2006-2007 season and the best record under current head coach Sean Van Winkle.

“In my eight years as a head coach both at Ross and Lakota West I have never had a team improve as much as we did this season in so many different ways,” Van Winkle said. “The true credit goes to the players and assistant coaches for their persistence towards wanting to become a better team.”

Next year, the Firebirds will return their top three scorers in Boykins, Barnes and Williams, but will be without seniors Jackson Blue, Cole Stalker, Kayuane Ross and Caleb Poston.

“This year’s seniors – Jackson Blue, Cole Stalker, Kayuane Ross, and Caleb Poston all represented Lakota West in a very good way,” Van Winkle said. “For our underclassman we will challenge them to continue to work hard and build on this year’s success.”

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Barnes, Caleb Poston, Cole Stalker, Jackson Blue, Kayuane Ross, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Monty Boykins, Tyler Williams

Lakota West junior guard Ali Barnes made seven of his 11 three-point attempts and scored 25 points in an 82-73 win against Sycamore Friday. It was the Firebirds’ fifth straight win.

Fellow junior Monty Boykins scored 20 points and pulled down six rebounds in the win. Teammates sophomore guard Tyler Williams (18 points, four assists) and senior forward Jackson Blue (10 points, 14 rebounds) made key contributions for Lakota West.

Meanwhile, Sycamore received strong performances from junior Joey Gruden (25 points, six rebounds), senior A.J. Williams (12 points, five rebounds) and junior Mason Morgan (14 points, 10 rebounds). Gruden made seven of his eight three-point attempts.

With the win, Lakota West improved its overall record to 13-6 and its record within the Greater Miami Conference to 10-3. The Firebirds are currently tied with Mason (16-3 overall, 10-3 in the GMC) for second place in the GMC – only one game behind Middletown (14-5 overall, 11-2 in the GMC).

The Firebirds, which will receive its postseason draw Sunday, has one more regular season game left that will be played next Friday at home at 7:30 p.m. against Hamilton (4-15 overall, 2-11 in the GMC). Meanwhile, Sycamore (6-13 overall, 2-11 in the GMC) will wrap up its season next Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Lakota East (7-12 overall, 4-9 in the GMC).

Lakota West 82, Sycamore 73

Lakota West (13-6 overall, 10-3 in the GMC) – Blue 3 4 10, Barnes 9 2 27, Stalker 2 1 5, Williams 5 3 16, Martin 2 0 4, Boykins 7 3 20. Totals: 28 13 82.

Sycamore (6-13 overall, 2-11 in the GMC) – Gruden 9 0 25, Hill 3 0 9, Farquhar 0 4 4, Faust 0 1 1, Gray 1 2 4, Brown 2 0 4, Morgan 7 0 14, Williams 5 2 12. Totals: 27 9 73.

Halftime: Lakota West 32-31. 3-pointers: L 13 (Barnes 7, Williams 3, Boykins 3); S 10 (Gruden 7, Hill 3).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: A.J. Williams, Ali Barnes, Joey Gruden, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Mason Morgan, Monty Boykins, Monty Boykins Lakota West, Tyler Williams, Tyler Williams Lakota West

After losing by the score of 74-34 to Lakota East last season, Lakota West has defeated its school district rival twice this winter in two closely contested basketball games. The latest victory for the Firebirds took place Tuesday when they outscored Lakota East 30-17 in the second half en route to a 57-46 win.

Leading the second half surge was junior guard Ali Barnes, who sparked a 14-3 Lakota West scoring run in the fourth quarter. During the scoring run, Barnes scored six of his team-leading 14 points.

Barnes’ backcourt teammates, sophomores Tyler Williams and Malik Grove turned in key performances in the win. Williams, who made a three pointer to force the final lead change in the fourth quarter, finished with 11 points. Grove, who has playing well on the junior varsity level recently, scored seven points and led the team in rebounding with seven boards in limited playing time.

For Lakota East, junior Robbie Harpring led all scorers with 15 points. He also had six rebounds. Harpring’s freshman teammate, forward Myo Baxter, finished with a career high 14 points in the loss.

The win puts Lakota West (12-6 overall, 9-3 in the Greater Miami Conference) in a two-way tie for second place in the GMC standings. Meanwhile, Lakota East (6-12 overall, 3-9 in the GMC) is tied for seventh place out of 10 teams in the GMC.

Lakota West, which has won four games in a row, will play at Sycamore (6-12 overall, 2-10 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Also in action at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Lakota East will host Oak Hills (7-10 overall, 5-7 in the GMC).

Lakota West 57, Lakota East 47

Lakota East (6-12, 3-9 in the GMC) – Emrick 2 1 5, Harpring 6 1 15, Lowry 3 0 6, Baxter 6 2 14, Bah 1 0 2, Panzeca 1 2 4. Totals 19 6 46.

Lakota West (12-6, 9-3 in the GMC) – Blue 2 1 5, Barnes 5 4 14, Stalker 2 0 4, Williams 4 2 11, Boykins 2 3 7, Ross 3 1 7, Thomas 1 0 2, Grove 3 0 7. Totals 22 11 57.

Halftime: Lakota East 29-27. 3-pointers: LE 2 (Harpring 2), LW 2 (Williams, Grove).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Barnes, Lakota East, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Myo Baxter, Rob Harpring, Robbie Harpring, Tyler Williams, Tyler Williams Lakota West

For the second straight Friday, Lakota West won a close game against a Greater Miami Conference opponent. This time, the Firebirds blew a 12-point lead in the second half only to go onto a 77-71 overtime win against Colerain.

Last Friday, Lakota West handed Middletown its first conference loss of the season when it won by the score of 56-53.

In the overtime win against Colerain, junior Monty Boykins recorded a season high 26 points and pulled down a career high 15 rebounds for Lakota West. Teammates, sophomore Tyler Williams added 14 points and junior Ali Barnes finished with 20 points.

Senior Elisha Campbell led Colerain with 21 points. His teammates, juniors C.J. Reed and Milton Davis each scored 15 points in the loss.

In its next game, Lakota West will visit Oak Hills (7-7 overall, 5-4 in the Greater Miami Conference) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Colerain will also be in action at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday when it hosts Mason (13-2 overall, 7-2 in the GMC).

Lakota West 77, Colerain 71 OT

Colerain (7-7, 2-7 in the GMC) – Porter 1 0 3, Reed 7 1 15, Campbell 9 2 21, Irby 1 1 4, Davis 4 6 15, Walters 5 2 13. Totals 27 12 71.

Lakota West (9-6, 6-3 in the GMC) – Thomas 1 2 4, Barnes 7 4 20, Stalker 3 0 6, Williams 3 6 14, Martin 2 3 7, Boykins 8 8 26. Totals 24 23 77.

Halftime: Lakota West 32-24. 3-Pointers: L 6 (Barnes 2, Williams 2, Boykins 2); C 5 (Porter, Campbell, Irby, Davis, Walters).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Barnes, C.J. Reeds, Colerain basketball, Elisha Campbell, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Milton Davis, Monty Boykins, Monty Boykins Lakota West, Tyler Williams, Tyler Williams Lakota West

With one of its top scorers stuck on the bench, Fairfield led by senior Keon Benjamin defeated Lakota West by the score of 70-59 in a battle of Greater Miami Conference second place teams Tuesday.

Benjamin knocked down four 3-pointers and scored a career high 24 points, while Fairfield’s second-leading scorer Brandon Murphy had to sit out after recording two technical fouls in the Indians’ 47-43 win against Oak Hills Friday.

“We say it all the time, ‘next guy in has to play,’” Fairfield head coach Tim Austing said. “It is part of the season, guys will go down with injuries or get in foul trouble. You just have to move on.”

“Keon creates a difficult matchup because it makes them cover a 3-point shooter with a center. It only works if you can really shoot it and Keon can really shoot it.”

The Firebirds, who were coming off a 56-53 upset win against Middletown Friday, led the game 20-16 at the end of the first quarter. Junior shooting guard Ali Barnes was perfect in the quarter, going 3-for-3 from the floor and was 1-for-1 at the free-throw line.

Benjamin, however, would knock down a 3-pointer during a 9-0 Fairfield scoring run to begin the second frame. After a pair of free throws by Benjamin, Fairfield increased its lead to 11 points with 2:03 left in the third quarter.

Lakota West quickly cut the lead to three after going on an 8-0 run of its own, capped off by an old fashioned 3-point play by Barnes.

The comeback attempt was eventually spoiled when Benjamin made his fourth 3-pointer of the game, giving Fairfield a 54-47 with 3:55 left in the game.

“I was just dialed in,” Benjamin said. “We have a little rivalry with them – they don’t like us, we don’t like them. That is what really gave me my motivation.”

Along with Benjamin, Fairfield was able to hang onto the victory thanks to making 28 of its 34 free throws. Combining to make 17 of those shots from the foul stripe, senior guards Kyle Smith and Jeff Woods finished with 16 and 19 points, respectively.

“That had to be our best free-throw shooting performance all season,” Benjamin said. “We have just been focusing in practice, shooting many more free throws than we normally have. Especially this week because we knew we were going to get fouled.”

Meanwhile, Lakota West had three players score in double figures including junior Monty Boykins (18 points), sophomore Tyler Williams (14 points) and Barnes (13 points).

Another bright spot for the Firebirds was the play of sophomore Tyler Bowling. The 6-foot-7 center started his first game of the season and scored 8 points before fouling out in 13 minutes of playing time.

“To sum it up, the better team won the game” Lakota West head coach Sean Van Winkle said. “It is as simple as that. The team that played good team defense won the game. Hopefully, we can get to that point before the season is out.”

Fairfield 70, Lakota West 59

Fairfield (12-2, 6-2 in the GMC): Turner 2 3 7, Barlow 0 2 2, Fleming 1 0 2, Smith 5 4 16, Woods 3 13 19, Benjamin 7 6 24. Totals 18 28 70.

Lakota West (8-6, 5-3 in the GMC): Bowling 4 0 8, Martin 1 0 2, Blue 2 0 4, Barnes 5 1 13, Williams 5 2 14, Boykins 6 3 18. Totals 23 6 59.

Halftime score: 32-27 Fairfield. 3-pointers: F 6 (Smith 2, Benjamin 4); LW 7 (Barnes 2, Williams 2, Boykins 3)

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Barnes, Brandon Murphy, Brandon Murphy Fairfield, Fairfield basketball, Keon Benjamin, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Monty Boykins, Monty Boykins Lakota West, Sean Van Winkle, Sean Van Winkle Lakota West, Tim Austing, Tyler Bowling, Tyler Williams, Tyler Williams Lakota West

Junior Monty Boykins scored a season high 24 points and made a pair of key free throws in the final seconds as Lakota West defeated Middletown by the score of 56-53 Friday. The loss was the Middies first against a Greater Miami Conference opponent this season.

After Boykins converted two free throw attempts with 18 seconds remaining, Middletown was able to get off a three-point shot before the buzzer. The attempt resulted in an air ball.

Sophomore point guard Tyler Williams (13 points) and junior Ali Barnes (10 points) also scored in double figures for Lakota West.

Senior Geovonie McKnight (19 points) and Vincent Edwards (16 points, 10 rebounds) led Middletown.

The loss creates a tie for first place in the GMC between Middletown and Mason (12-1 overall, 6-1 in the GMC). Lakota West is one game behind and tied with Fairfield (11-2 overall, 5-2 in the GMC).

The Firebirds are scheduled to host Fairfield at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, while Middletown will visit Lakota East (5-8 overall, 2-5 in the GMC) at the same time Tuesday.

Lakota West 56, Middletown 53

Lakota West (8-5, 5-2 in the GMC) – Blue 2 1 5, Barnes 4 1 10, Williams 3 6 13, Boykins 6 10 24, Bowling 1 0 2, Stalker 0 2 2. Totals 16 20 56.

Middletown (9-4, 6-1 in the GMC) – Edwards 1 0 2, Edwards 6 3 16, Sorrell 4 0 8, Marshall 3 2 8, McKnight 6 5 19. Totals 20 10 53.

Halftime: Middletown 31-28. 3-pointers: LW 4 (Barnes, Williams, Boykins 2); M 3 (Edwards, McKnight 2).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Barnes, Geovonie McKnight, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Middletown basketball, Monty Boykins, Monty Boykins Lakota West, Tyler Williams, Tyler Williams Lakota West, Vincent Edwards

Lakota West battled injuries and couldn’t finish off its comeback attempt against Princeton, falling by the score of 56-50 Friday.

The Firebirds had trailed Princeton 49-48 with 55 seconds to play. The Vikings, however, converted 5-of-6 free throws in the last minute to hold on to the win.

Senior De’Arius Young (6-foot-7, 280 pounds) led Princeton with 15 points and 7 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Lakota West senior Jackson Blue set a Lakota school district single game record with 8 blocks. According to WestFirebirds.com, the previous record was 7 set by Josh Chichester during the 2003-04 season.

The Firebirds also received strong performances by junior Monty Boykins (13 points, 11 rebounds), junior Ali Barnes (13 points) and sophomore Tyler Williams (11 points, 6 rebounds).

Due to injury, Lakota West took the court without senior forward Kayaune Ross. Furthermore, Barnes was injured during the game.

Next up for the Firebirds is a matchup against Dixie Heights (10-5 overall) in the Bluegrass-Buckeye Classic at the Bank of Kentucky Center (Northern Kentucky University) at 7:45 p.m. Saturday. Princeton, on the other hand, is not scheduled to play another game until next Friday when it will host Hamilton (3-8 overall, 1-5 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m.

Princeton 56, Lakota West 50

Lakota West (7-4, 4-2 in the GMC) – Blue 1 2 5, Barnes 5 2 13, Stalker 1 0 2, Williams 3 4 11, Boykins 5 2 13, Thomas 0 2 2, Moo Young 1 0 2, Bengal 1 0 2.

Princeton (8-3, 3-3 in the GMC) – Jordan 2 5 9, Tivis 2 0 4, Isham 4 0 8, McAvinchey 2 1 5, Young 5 5 15, Pritchett 1 0 2, McGill 3 0 7, Watkins 1 0 2, Lowmeyer 1 2 4.

Halftime: Princeton 28-24. 3-pointers: L 4 (Barnes, Boykins, Blue, Williams); P 1 (McGill).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Barnes, De’Arius Young, Josh Chichester, Josh Chichester Louisville, Kayaune Ross, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Monty Boykins, Monty Boykins Lakota West, Princeton basketball, Tyler Williams, Tyler Williams Lakota West

Lakota West, which lost two of its three games at the Republic Bank Holiday Classic in Lexington (Ky.) last week, remained perfect against Greater Miami Conference opponents after defeating Hamilton on the road by the score of 60-46 Tuesday.

The win sets up a big game for the Firebirds (6-2 overall, 4-0 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, when they will host Mason (8-1 overall, 3-1 in the GMC).

In Tuesday’s win against Hamilton, juniors Ali Barnes and Monty Boykins each scored 15 points for the Firebirds. Senior forward Kayaune Ross and sophomore point guard Tyler Williams each added 8 points in the win.

Hamilton 6-foot-8 senior Torrell Sutton led all players with 18 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.

After the upcoming Mason game, Lakota West will play at Elder (1-6 overall, 0-2 in the Greater Catholic League) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Lakota West 60, Hamilton 46

Lakota West (6-2, 4-0 in the GMC) – Ross 4 0 8, Blue 3 3 9, Barnes 6 1 15, Stalker 1 0 2, Williams 3 2 8, Boykins 6 2 15, Grove 1 0 3. Totals 24 8 60.

Hamilton (2-6, 0-4 in the GMC) – Boyd 2 1 5, Bailey 3 0 7, Jones 2 1 6, Sims 3 0 7, Oliver 1 1 3, Sutton 8 2 18. Totals 19 5 46.

Halftime: Lakota West 26-22. 3-pointers: L 4 (Barnes 2, Boykins, Grove); H 3 (Bailey, Sims, Jones).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Barnes, Kayaune Ross, Lakota West, Lakota West athletics, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Monty Boykins, Monty Boykins Lakota West, Torrell Sutton, Tyler Williams

Lakota West, ranked No. 10 in The Enquirer Division I coaches’ poll, rebounded from its first loss of the season by outscoring Pulaski County 14-5 in overtime to earn a 79-70 victory at the Republic Bank Holiday Classic in Lexington.

The Firebirds, which lost by 13 points to Louisville Trinity on Wednesday night, were paced by a season-high 23 points from junior guard Ali Barnes.

Pulaski County, which led 35-34 at halftime, missed a potential game-winning jumper with seconds remaining in regulation to force the game into overtime. Pulaski County connected on 13 3-point field goals, including six from leading scorer Taylor Gover, who finished with 23 points.

Lakota West will play Louisville Moore today at 3:30 p.m. in the fifth-place game.

Lakota West 79, Pulaski County 70 (OT)

Lakota West (5-1, 3-0 in GMC) – Williams 5 2 14, Boykins 4 7 15, Grove 1 0 2, Barnes 8 2 23, Ross 5 0 10, Blue 2 2 6, Stalker 2 3 7, Hicks 1 0 2. Totals: 28 16 79.

Pulaski Co. (7-7) – Johnson 3 0 7, Goins 2 0 5, Gover 6 5 23, Smith 5 1 15, Burton 1 0 2, Laign 3 7 13, Ross 1 2 5. Totals: 21 15 70.

Halftime: Pulaski Co. 35-34. 3-pointers: L 7 (Barnes 5, Williams 2); P 13 (Gover 6, Smith 4, Johnson, Goins, Ross).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Barnes, Lakota West, Lakota West athletics, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Monty Boykins, Monty Boykins Lakota West

The Lakota West boys’ basketball team won its second straight game against a Greater Miami Conference opponent when it defeated Sycamore by the score of 59-53 Friday.

Junior Monty Boykins, who finished with a team high 15 points, led the Firebirds. Teammates senior Kayaune Ross (14 points, 15 rebounds) and junior Ali Barnes (14 points, 3 assistss) combined to score 28 points.

Meanwhile, 6-foot-6 260-pound A.J. Williams, who is committed to play football at Michigan, finished with 17 points and 9 rebounds for Sycamore in the loss.

Next up for the Firebirds (2-0 overall, 2-0 in the GMC) is a road contest at rival Lakota East (1-2 overall, 0-2 in the GMC). Sycamore (1-3 overall, 0-2 in the GMC) will also play Tuesday, visiting Colerain (2-2 overall, 0-2 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m.

Box score – Lakota West 59, Sycamore 53

Sycamore (1-3, 0-2 GMC) – Gruden 2 4 8, Hill 1 2 5, Farquhar 1 0 2, Brown 3 4 10, Morgan 4 3 11, Williams 8 1 17. Totals: 19 14 53.
Lakota West (2-0, 2-0 GMC) – Ross 4 4 14, Blue 2 0 4, Barnes 6 1 14, Stalker 1 0 2, Williams 1 3 6, Moo Young 0 2 2, Boykins 5 4 15, Grove 1 0 2. Totals: 20 14 59.

Halftime score: Lakota West 26-22. 3-pointers: S 1 (Hill); LW 5 (Ross 2, Barnes, Williams, Boykins).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: A.J. Williams, Ali Barnes, Kayaune Ross, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Monty Boykins, Monty Boykins Lakota West, Sycamore basketball