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Thanks to a good fourth quarter, the Lakota West Firebirds were able snap a two-game losing streak and defeat previously unbeaten Hamilton by the score of 41-29 Saturday.

Lakota West led 22-20 at the start of the fourth quarter and outscored the Big Blue 19-9 in the final frame.

Entering the contest, the Firebirds had lost to two of Greater Miami Conference’s top teams in Sycamore and Lakota East. Prior to those losses, Lakota West had started the year 4-0.

Sophomore center Elisabeth Carter produced career highs in minutes with 20, rebounds with 4 and in points with 9. Senior teammates Shabazz and Summer Reeves each scored 7 points, while freshman Lauren Cannatelli had 8 points and 4 rebounds.

Defensively, Lakota West had 15 steals and helped to force the Big Blue into committing 31 turnovers.

Hamilton junior guard Jillian Spurlock led all scorers with 10 points. Senior teammate Desiree Ash had a season low 5 points, but also finished with a season high 12 rebounds.

Lakota West (5-2 overall, 2-2 in the Greater Miami Conference) will host Mason (4-1 overall, 4-1 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Meanwhile, Hamilton (5-1 overall, 3-1 in the GMC) will play at Talawanda at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Box score – Lakota West 41, Hamilton 29

Lakota West (5-2, 2-2 GMC) – Zieverink 1 0 2, Sh. Reeves 2 3 7, Huxhold 0 4 4, Cannatelli 2 3 8, Mills 1 0 2, Carter 3 3 9, Su. Reeves 3 1 7, McNeal 0 2 2. Totals: 12 15 41.
Hamilton (5-1, 3-1 GMC) – Kivell 1 3 5, Spurlock 3 4 10, Kage 2 0 4, Ash 2 1 5, Goins 0 2 2, Keend 1 1 3. Totals: 9 11 29.

Halftime: Lakota West 18-15. 3-pointers: LW 2 (Cannatelli, Su. Reeves); H none.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Desiree Ash, Elisabeth Carter, Hamilton basketball, Jillian Spurlock, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Lauren Cannatelli, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves

All four of the Lakota varsity high school basketball programs will be in action this weekend. The boys’ programs will play Friday night, while both girls’ programs will take the court Saturday afternoon.

The Lakota West boys’ program (1-0 overall, 1-0 in the Greater Miami Conference) will host Sycamore (1-2 overall, 0-1 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Firebirds won their season opener against Oak Hills (1-2 overall, 0-1 in the GMC) by the score of 56-47 Dec. 6.

In that win, Lakota West held a 19-point lead in the third quarter. The Firebirds struggled to finish the game, however, as the Highlands eventually tied score 42-42 with three minutes to play.

Led by junior guard Ali Barnes, who scored all of his seven points in the last three minutes, Lakota West closed out the game on a 14-5 run.

“As a team, we haven’t learned to believe in each other yet. That is our biggest problem right now,” Lakota West head coach Sean VanWinkle said after the game.

“We have a long, long way to go.”

Meanwhile, Sycamore has lost to Indian Hill (55-39) and Princeton (76-37). The Aves only win was against Milford (46-44).

Senior A.J. Williams, who has committed to play football at Michigan, leads Sycamore with 13.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Williams, who is 6-foot-6 260 pounds, could be a tough matchup for the Firebirds.

Meanwhile, the Lakota East boys’ program (1-1 overall, 0-1 in the GMC) is hoping to rebound from a 66-52 loss against Fairfield (4-0 overall, 1-0 in the GMC) last week when its visits Oak Hills at 7:30 p.m. Friday. (more…)

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: A.J. Williams, Ben Laumann, Desiree Ash, Jake Richmond, Jillian Spurlock, Lakota East, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Sean VanWinkle, Stedman Lowry, Tazzie Shaw, Tazzie Shaw Lakota East, Tazzie Shaw Marshall, Whitney Wyckoff, Whitney Wyckoff Lakota East