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The Lakota West girls’ basketball team will open the 2012-2013 season at Mount Notre Dame Monday night with a roster that includes three freshmen and three sophomores.

“We are obviously going to be, perhaps, the youngest varsity basketball team in the league,” Lakota West head coach Andy Fishman said. “However, I don’t think that means we should set our sights any lower or the expectations that we have, which is to compete for championships.”

The Firebirds head into their season opener without the services of its senior leader Emily Niehaus and junior post player Amanda Gallof, who are both out with foot injuries.

Those injuries make sophomore Lauren Cannatelli the team’s only returning starter from last year. As a freshman, Cannatelli led the Firebirds in minutes played per game with 22 and was second in points scored per game with 7.7.

Starting alongside Cannatelli will be junior post player Elisabeth Carter, who unlike her fellow upper class teammates is healthy after playing through a foot injury last season. Despite playing hurt, Carter still averaged 13 minutes, 2.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.

Hoping to earn starts alongside Cannatelli and Carter are freshmen Danielle Wells, Lexi Wasan and Nia Staples, as well as sophomores Arianne Whitaker and Lara Aull.

“If we are going to have freshmen or sophomores on varsity, as with the case with Lauren last year, you have to know that they are good for at least half a game to justify not getting them minutes at a lower level,” Fishman said.

Although inexperienced, the Firebirds drew the respect of the region’s girls’ basketball coaches – receiving the ranking of No. 6 in The Cincinnati Enquirer preseason poll.

“I expect this group to be very competitive,” Fishman said. “Although I don’t expect them to play with great experience, I do expect them to play with great desire, a great fellowship and that winning attitude that really puts them in position to be winners regardless the outcome of the game.”

After Monday’s season opener, Lakota West will open its home schedule and its conference schedule on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against Oak Hills. On Saturday, the Firebirds will host Princeton – No. 1 in The Enquirer preseason coaches’ poll – at 2 p.m.

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Tags: Tags: Amanda Gallof, Arianna Whitaker, Elisabeth Carter, Emily Niehaus, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West basketball preview, Lakota West sports, Lara Aull, Lauren Cannatelli, Lauren Cannatelli Lakota West

The Lakota West girls’ basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak when it defeated Middletown by the score of 56-22 Wednesday.

The Firebirds defense forced 23 turnovers and limited Middletown into making only 11.8 percent of its field goal attempts.

Senior Ali Zierverk had 11 points and 8 rebounds to lead Lakota West. Sophomore teammate Elisabeth Carter scored a career high 10 points and had 7 rebounds off the bench.

Lakota West (7-6 overall, 3-5 in the Greater Miami Conference) will be back in action when it will host Fairfield (4-9 overall, 1-7 in the GMC) at 2 p.m. Saturday. Meanwhile, Middletown (5-9 overall, 1-7 in the GMC) will play at Lakota East at the same time Saturday.

Lakota West 56, Middletown 22

Lakota West	15	20	11	10	56
Middletown	3	4	8	7	22

Lakota West (7-6, 3-5 in the GMC) — Zieverink 5 1 11, Huxhold 3 1 7, Cannatelli 3 1 7, Mills 1 0 2, Tomasic 3 0 7, Sh. Reeves 0 2 2, Carter 4 2 10, Gallof 1 2 4, Aull 3 0 6. Totals: 23 8 56.

Middletown (5-9, 1-7 in the GMC) — Edwards 1 4 6, Booker 1 0 2, Roberts 2 1 5, Burks 1 2 4, Saylor 1 2 5. Totals: 6 9 22.

Halftime: Lakota West 35-7. 3-Pointers: L 2 (Huxhold, Cannatelli); M (Saylor).

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Tags: Tags: Ali Zierverk, Elisabeth Carter, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Middletown basketball

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	8	10	4	19	41
Hamilton	4	11	5	9	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