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Lakota West safety Dawson Fletcher officially signed to play football at Indiana University Feb. 1, 2012 on National Signing Day. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Unlike Lakota East, Lakota West High School hosts numerous signing ceremonies throughout the academic calendar. So far, there have been 32 seniors at Lakota West who have signed on to continue their athletic careers in college.

At Lakota East, there have been a total of 26 seniors recognized at two different signing day events in 2012.

Here is a list of all the Lakota West students who will be playing sports in college:

• Ali Zieverink – Shawnee State (basketball)
• Adrianna McNeal – Southwestern (basketball)
• Rachel Mills – Alderson Broddus Illinois College ((basketball)
• Summer Reeves – Morgan State University (basketball)
• Shabazz Reeves – Morgan State University (basketball)
• Jordan Darland – Olivet Nazarene (football)
• Blake Bell – California (PA.) (football)
• Dawson Fletcher – Indiana University (football)
• Cole Stalker – University of Findlay (football)
• Beau Odom – Georgetown College (football)
• Kayaune Ross – Fort Scott Community College (football)
• Bubba Williams – Lindsey Wilson (football)
• Evan Hodel – Wheeling Jesuit (lacrosse)
• Zach Crabtree – Wheeling Jesuit (lacrosse)
• Ali Green – Ashland (golf)
• Kim Love – Purdue University (soccer)
• Kelly Mack – Wright State (soccer)
• Lauren Pratt – Ohio Dominican (soccer)
• Malik Zuberi – Shawnee State (baseball)
• Zak Farmer – Walsh University (baseball)
• Davis Schafer – Bellarmine University (baseball)
• Mike Seaman – Trine University (baseball)
• Nick Billman – Mount St. Joseph (baseball)
• Jake Wagner – Miami-Hamilton (baseball)
• Amanda Lahti -  Ohio Northern (softball)
• Brooke Rowley – Lake Forest College (swimming)
• Brady Holmer – NKU (cross country)
• Amanda Shelby – Mount St. Joseph (cross country)
• Nathan Haynes – Navy (cross country)
• Mel Stewart – NKU (volleyball)
• Corri Muha – Georgetown College (volleyball)
• Nick Bloch – Lake Erie College (wrestling)

WestFirebirds.com, the school’s official athletic website, posts photos and details after signing ceremonies take place.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports, Spring sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Adrianna McNeal, Ali Green, Ali Zieverink, Amanda Lahti, Amanda Shelby, Beau Odom, Blake Bell, Brady Holmer, Brooke Rowley, Bubba Williams, Cincinnati football recruiting, Cole Stalker, Corri Muha, Davis Schafer, Dawson Fletcher, Evan Hodel, Jake Wagner, Jordan Darland, Kayaune Ross, Kelly Mack, Kim Love, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Lauren Pratt, Malik Zuberi, Mel Stewart, Mike Seaman, Nathan Haynes, Nick Billman, Nick Bloch, ohio basketball recruiting, Ohio football recruiting, Ohio High School sports recruiting, Ohio preps recruiting, Ohio sports recruiting, Rachel Mills, recruiting, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves, Zach Crabtree, Zak Farmer

The Mason Comets (14-6 overall, 10-4 in the Greater Miami Conference) defeated a Lakota West (12-8 overall, 7-7 in the GMC) team, who had won six of its last seven games, by the score of 46-27 Saturday afternoon.

Mason senior Brianna Glover, who will continue her career at Xavier University, led all players in scoring with 20 points and in rebounds with 10.

Meanwhile, off the bench, senior Ali Zieverink scored 13 points in only nine minutes of playing time for the Firebirds.

The game officially ends the regular season for both teams.

For Lakota West, the postseason will begin Wednesday at 6 p.m. when it will face Loveland (4-16 overall, 3-13 in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference) at Harrison High School. Mason, on the other hand, will begin its postseason Saturday at 3 p.m. at Lakota East High School where it will play the winner of a Wednesday night matchup between Mt. Notre Dame (5-15 overall, 2-8 in the Girls Greater Cincinnati League) and Anderson (14-6 overall, 11-5 in the FAVC).

Mason 46, Lakota West 27

Lakota West (12-8, 7-7 in the GMC) – Cannatelli 3 0 7, Mills 1 0 2, Zieverink 6 1 13, Sh. Reeves 2 0 5. Totals: 121 27.

Mason (14-6 overall, 10-4 in the GMC) – Glover 7 5 20, McDowell 2 4 8, Neal 1 4 6, Garner 0 1 1, Herren 1 1 3, Gunn 2 2 6, Ammons 1 0 2. Totals: 14 17 46.

Halftime: Mason 23-8. 3-pointers: L 2 (Cannatelli, Sh. Reeves); M 1 (Glover).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Zieverink, Brianna Glover, Brianna Glover Xavier, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports

Lakota West won its third straight game after defeating Oak Hills by the score of 52-39 Wednesday. The Firebirds (9-6 overall, 5-5 in the Greater Miami Conference) are one victory away from equaling their win total from last season.

Seniors Ali Zieverink and Summer Reeves led Lakota West in the win. Zieverink scored 13 points and pulled down 5 rebounds, while Reeves scored a game high 17 points.

Meanwhile, junior Lindsey Eckstein led Oak Hills with a season high 15 points. Fellow junior Mackenzie Laumann scored 10 points, which was also a personal season high.

The Firebirds will be tested this Saturday when they visit Sycamore (15-1 overall, 9-1 in the GMC), which is in first place in the GMC, at 2 p.m. Oak Hills will also be in action Saturday at 2 p.m. when it hosts Lakota East (10-5 overall, 7-3 in the GMC).

Lakota West 52, Oak Hills 39

Lakota West (9-6, 5-5 in the GMC) – Huxhold 0 1 1, Cannatelli 1 0 2, Mills 2 0 4, Tomasic 0 1 1, Niehaus 3 1 9, Zieverink 6 0 13, Carter 1 2 4, Su. Reeves 5 5 17, McNeal 0 1 1. Totals 18 11 52.

Oak Hills (2-13, 1-9 in the GMC) – Laumann 2 6 10, Kilgore 2 1 5, Eckstein 6 3 15, MacArthur 0 1 1, Rogers 1 0 2, Kingrey 1 0 2, Murray 0 2 2, Braun 1 0 2. Totals 13 13 39

Halftime: 19-19. 3-pointers: LW 5 (Niehaus 2, Zieverink, Su. Reeves 2).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Zieverink, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Lindsey Eckstein, Mackenzie Laumann, Summer Reeves

Lakota West won its second straight conference game when it defeated Fairfield by the score of 71-40 Saturday. The Firebirds’ 71-point total was a season high.

As a team, Lakota West made 52 percent of its field goals. Four Firebirds, senior Ali Zieverink (13 points, 7 rebounds), Lauren Cannatelli (10 points, 4 steals), Summer Reeves (10 points, 3 assists) and Adrianna McNeal (15 points, 4 steals) scored in double figures.

Meanwhile, junior Kaitlyn Mueller led Fairfield with a career high 13 points.

Lakota West will be back in action at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when it visits Oak Hills (2-11 overall, 1-7 in the Greater Miami Conference). Fairfield will be in action at the same time Wednesday when it visits Lakota East (9-5 overall, 6-3 in the GMC).

Lakota West 71, Fairfield 40

Fairfield (4-10, 1-8 in the GMC) – Butler 2 0 5, Stewart 1 0 2, Jones 1 2 4, Ford 2 0 6, Mueller 5 0 13, Spaulding 1 0 3, Williams 1 0 2, James 1 0 2, Ricks 1 0 2, Rhodes 0 1 1. Totals 15 3 40.

Lakota West (8-6, 4-5 in the GMC) – Zieverink 5 3 13, Huxhold 0 2 2, Cannatelli 4 0 10, Mills 1 0 2, Tomasic 2 0 4, Sh. Reeves 1 0 2, Carter 2 1 5, Niehaus 3 0 8, Su. Reeves 4 2 10, McNeal 6 3 15. Totals 28 11 71.

Halftime: Lakota West 32-14. 3-pointers: F 7 (Butler, Ford 2, Mueller 3, Spaudling). LW 4 (Cannatelli 2, Niehaus 2).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Adrianna McNeal, Ali Zieverink, Kaitlyn Mueller, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Lauren Cannatelli, Summer Reeves

Lakota West and Princeton traded the lead six times and had four ties in the first half, but the Firebirds eventually lost by the score of 68-60 at Princeton Wednesday.

Princeton entered the game ranked No. 1 in the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Division I coaches poll and No. 23 nationally by ESPN. Its leading scorer, Kelsey Mitchell, finished with a season high 33 points and converted 14-of-14 of her free throw attempts.

Mitchell, who is ranked as the No. 1 player overall in the class of 2014 by ESPN HoopGurlz Terrific 25 rankings, is averaging 26.1 points per game this season.

Meanwhile, freshman Lauren Cannatelli led Lakota West with a career high 15 points. Senior teammate Ali Zieverink also had career highs in points with 12 and in rebounds with 11.

The win improves Princeton’s record to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the Greater Miami Conference, while Lakota West’s record falls to 6-5 overall and 2-4 in the GMC.

Lakota West – No. 10 in the Enquirer’s coaches’ poll – will be back in action when it will host Colerain (7-4 overall, 3-3 in the GMC) at 2 p.m. Saturday. Princeton’s next game will be at Lakota East (7-2 overall, 5-1 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Princeton 68, Lakota West 60

Lakota West (6-5, 2-4 in the GMC) – Vieverink 5 2 12, Sh. Reeves 4 1 10, Cannatelli 4 4 15, Carter 0 2 2, Tomasic 2 2 6, Niehaus 3 1 7, Su. Reeves 1 0 2, McNeal 3 0 6. Totals 22 12 60.

Princeton (9-0, 6-0 in the GMC) – Roper 2 4 10, K. Mitchell 8 14 33, Rucker 3 1 7, Smith 1 0 2, C. Mitchell 3 5 11, Pogue 2 1 5. Totals 19 25 68.

Halftime: Princeton 38-31. 3-Pointers: L 4 (Cannatelli 3, Sh. Reeves); P 5 (K. Mitchell 3, Roper 2).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Zieverink, Kelsey Mitchell, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Lauren Cannatelli

Leading by a point in the remaining seconds of the game, Lakota West senior forward Ali Zieverink forced a Withrow turnover and dove on the basketball to secure a 53-52 win Thursday.

The win gives the Firebirds their second straight victory this winter as the team tries to rebound from their 10-11 record last season.

In the latest win, Lakota West took the lead for good on a Summer Reeves free throw with 27 seconds left.

As a team, five different Firebirds connected on three-point field goals. Reeves and her twin sister Shabazz made a combined five three pointers and totaled 27 points. The senior duo has already signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at Morgan State University.

Lakota West (2-0) will have its home and Greater Miami Conference opener against Oak Hills (0-2) at 2 p.m. this Saturday. Last season, Lakota West defeated Oak Hills on the road by the score of 44-32.

Box score – Lakota West 53, Withrow 52

Lakota West - Zieverink 1 3 5, Sh. Reeves 2 4 10, Huxhold 2 1 7, Tomasic 1 1 4, Niehaus 1 3 6, Su. Reeves 5 4 17, McNeal 1 2 4. Totals: 13 18 53.
Withrow (1-1) - Lee 5 0 10, Cohen 3 2 10, Williams 4 1 9, Beckley 1 0 2, Starkey 2 0 6, Paige 3 2 9, Roberts 1 2 4, Huey 1 0 2. Totals: 20 7 52.

Halftime: Tied 25-25. 3-pointers: L 9 (Sh. Reeves 2, Huxhold 2, Niehaus, Tomasic, Su. Reeves 3); W 5 (Cohen 2, Starkey 2, Paige).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Zieverink, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves, Withrow basketball

For the second straight year, Lakota West defeated Mount Notre Dame in its season opener. In 2010, the Firebirds avoided a second-half collapse to defeat the Cougars by the score of 44-40. This time around, Lakota West cruised to a 44-32 victory.

In this year’s matchup, Lakota West pulled away by outscoring MND 15-2 in the second quarter – giving the Firebirds a 29-11 halftime advantage.

• Lakota West girls’ basketball preview

Lakota West senior forward Ali Zieverink (photo – in practice last week) scored a game high and a personal career high 11 points in the win. Junior guard Rachel Huxhold added eight points for the Firebirds.

In its their next scheduled contest, the Firebirds will visit Withrow Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Following that game, Lakota West will have its home and Greater Miami Conference opener against Oak Hills Saturday at 2 p.m.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Zieverink, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Rachel Huxhold

In 2008, Ali Zieverink was an eighth grader when she watched her sister, Emma, and her Lakota West teammates play in the state championship game.

Ali, who is now a senior, looked up that team, which featured six seniors who went on to play college basketball. She attended camps and was inspired to make an impact on the high school team herself.

“Being a part of it from the stands made me want to be a part of it on the floor even more,” Zieverink said. “I think with the team we have this year, if we keep working really hard, we can get back there.”

After 10 consecutive winning seasons and two appearances in the state tournament’s final four, Lakota West finished 10-11 overall, 6-8 in the Greater Miami Conference and was ousted in the first round of the postseason last winter.

“We have enough girls that remember the pride of the Lakota West basketball program and that want it to be back in that elite category,” Lakota West head coach Andy Fishman said.

“We don’t get the final four two years in a row because we had girls who were not committed to coming in and diving on the floor everyday. That was something that was definitely missing.”

Fishman is quick to point out that this year’s team is willing fight for each possession, dive for loose balls and play tight defense.

“Every team should be fighters, every year,” Fishman said. “This is the best mentality that we have had in a couple of years. There is more competition in the gym and I think that every player knows that she is an important person, but no more important than anyone else.”

The top returning scorer from last season is senior Summer Reeves, who along with her twin sister Shabazz, signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at Morgan State University. Last season, Summer averaged 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, while Shabazz averaged 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, Lakota West will have to start the season without a pair of starters from last season’s team in seniors Bari Schwartz and Adrianna McNeal. Schwartz, who led Lakota West in assists last season, will miss the entire season after suffering an ACL tear during the soccer season. McNeal, on the other hand, is week-to-week with a micro fracture of her tibia.

The Firebirds also lose 2010-2011 starters Ronni Grandison (University of Massachusetts) and Mea Williams (Wilmington College) due to graduation. Claire Koslowski, who was considered by Fishman as the team’s best leader in practice, also graduated and is now playing rugby at the University of Notre Dame.

According to Fishman, this team is well balanced and has a lot of depth. He and his coaching staff are still determining which girls play together well enough to compete for GMC and district championships.

Lakota West will tip off its season when it will hosts Mount Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Adrianna McNeal, Ali Zieverink, Andy Fishman, Andy Fishman Lakota West, Bari Schwartz, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves