WestChesterBuzz.com

After taking a 35-33 lead midway through the third quarter, Lakota West fell behind and couldn’t keep up with Princeton in a 61-46 loss in a district semifinal matchup at Harrison Friday.

The Vikings led for most of contest until the third quarter. That was when sophomore Kelsey Mitchell picked up her third foul and was taken out of the game.

Lakota West responded by going on a 7-0 run, turning a 28-23 deficit into a 2-point advantage.

After the run, Mitchell checked back in the game and led Princeton on a 10-2 run. Lakota West managed to cut the lead to 5, but failed to get the score any closer.

Mitchell, who is ranked the No. 1 overall player in the nation in the recruiting class of 2014 by ESPN, finished with 19 points.

• Looking back – before the season: Lakota West girls’ basketball preview

The loss ends the season for the Firebirds, who rebounded from their first losing season in 10 years with a 14-9 overall record. Lakota West played especially well late in the season, winning eight of its last 10 games heading into the Princeton loss.

Princeton 61, Lakota West 46

Princeton (20-3) – C. Mitchell 1 0 3, Roper 4 0 8, Ballew 1 4 6, K. Mitchell 4 11 19, Rucker 3 0 7, Chinn 1 1 3, Pogue 7 1 15. Totals 23 17 61.

Lakota West (14-9) – Zieverink 3 2 8, Reeves 4 0 9, Cannatelli 3 0 9, McNeal 4 3 11, Neihaus 2 0 5, Huxhold 1 0 2, Carter 1 0 2. Totals 23 5 46.

Halftime: Lakota West 33-31. 3-Pointers: P 2 (C. Mitchell, Rucker); L 5 (Cannatelli 3, Reeves, Neihaus).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Kelsey Mitchell, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Princeton basketball

Behind a strong defensive effort, Lakota West stormed into Friday’s Division I sectional finals – defeating Western Hills by the score of 61-21 Tuesday.

Using a pressuring defense, the Firebirds (14-8 overall, 7-7 in the Greater Miami Conference) held Western Hills to 26.7 percent shooting and forced 33 turnovers.

The active defense led to five steals for Lauren Cannatelli as the 5-foot-7 freshman guard scored 11 points and dished out three assists.

Cannatelli’s backcourt partner, 5-foot-6 junior guard Emily Neihaus, was the only other Lakota West player in double figures with 10 points and three rebounds.

Meanwhile, Western Hills (11-8) forced 17 turnovers, with 5-foot-6 freshman guard Dan’Shae Hill picking up three steals to go with her team-high nine points and four rebounds.

Last Wednesday, Lakota West defeated Loveland by the score of 62-24 in its first postseason game. Like the win against Western Hills, the Firebirds’ defense played well – limiting Loveland to 19 percent shooting and forcing 29 turnovers.

Lakota West, the No. 8 seed in the Southwest District, will play No. 2 seed Princeton (19-3 overall, 13-1 in the GMC) at Harrison High School at 7 p.m. Friday. Earlier this season, Princeton defeated Lakota West by the score of 68-60. In that win, sophomore Kelsey Mitchell led Princeton with 33 points. Mitchell, who is ranked the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2014 by ESPN, is averaging 20.5 points per game.

Like the Firebirds, Princeton has had two convincing wins this postseason – defeating Woodward 83-16 last Wednesday and beating Northwest 70-12 Tuesday.

Lakota West (14-8) - Zieverink 3 3 9, Sh. Reeves 2 1 6, Cannatelli 4 1 11, McNeal 1 0 2, Neihaus 4 0 10, Huxhold 1 0 2, Adams 2 0 4, R. Mills 2 0 4, Tomasic 2 0 4, Su. Reeves 3 0 7, H. Mills 1 0 2. Totals 25 5 61.

Western Hills (11-8) - Abernathy 1 0 2, Johnson 0 2 2, Thomas 2 1 5, Hill 4 1 9, Davis 1 0 2, Chancellor 0 1 1. Totals 8 5 21.

Halftime: Lakota West 45-7. 3-pointers: L 6 (Cannatelli 2, Neihaus 2, Sh. Reeves, Su. Reeves).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Dan'Shae Hill, Emily Neihaus, Kelsey Mitchell, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Lauren Cannatelli, Princeton basketball, Western Hills basketball

All four Lakota varsity basketball teams were in action Saturday. See below for scores and recaps of each game.

Nick Chaney reported for the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Princeton rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to knock off Lakota East on the road Saturday night, 70-63. The Lady Vikings – ranked first in The Cincinnati Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll - got a big night from their back court as sophomore guard Kelsey Mitchell scored 29 points and her senior teammate Breanna Rucker added 24 points and nine rebounds.

The teams combined for 17 3-pointers in the game, but both coaches said the difference was turnovers.

“The press got to us in the second half,” Lakota East coach Nikki Drew said. “Any time you play Princeton, you’re going to learn to get stronger and tougher with the ball.”

Drew got a big night from senior forward Molly Blomer, who scored 23 points and added eight boards in what her coach called one of the better high school games she’d seen.

“[Molly’s] energy was the difference for us,” coach Drew said.

Princeton coach Jill Phillips made the halftime adjustment to pick up the pressure, and it paid off for the Lady Vikings – they forced 18 Lakota East turnovers in the victory. Phillips also liked what she saw on the offensive end out of the locker room.

“We were a lot more patient against the zone and got some good looks in the third quarter,” she said. “We brought them out of the zone and played more our style in the fourth quarter.”

Phillips said her team tried to force things a little too much and didn’t use enough clock down the stretch, but they found a way to get the win.

“We only play (Lakota East) once this year,” Phillips said. “I think it’s a huge win for us, especially on the road.”

Princeton will be back in action on Friday at home against Ursuline. No. 3 Lakota East will have a week off before taking on Colerain on the road on Saturday.

Princeton 70, Lakota East 63

Princeton (10-0, 7-0 in the GMC) – Roper 2 0 5, Ballew 3 0 7, Mitchell 9 7 29, Rucker 9 3 3 24, Mitchell 2 0 4, Pogue 0 1 1. Totals 25 11 70.

Lakota East (7-3, 5-2 in the GMC) – B. Satterwhite 2 4 10, Grevenkamp 4 2 11, Franklin 0 2 2, Shaw 3 4 11, Blomer 9 1 23, K. Satterwhite 2 0 4, Pashi 1 0 2. Totals 21 13 63.

Halftime: Lakota East, 40-34. 3-pointers: P 9 (Roper, Ballew, Mitchell 4, Rucker 3), LE 8 (B. Satterwhite 2, Grevenkamp, Shaw, Blomer 4).

Firebirds lose third straight: (more…)

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Austin Emrick, Breanna Rucker, Jill Phillips, Kelsey Mitchell, Lakota East, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Lauren Cannatelli, Molly Blomer, Nikki Drew, Nikki Drew Lakota East, Nikki Drew Xavier, Rob Harpring, Robbie Harpring, Sheaira Jones, Zach Panzeca

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

After two weeks of limited varsity sports, all winter sports programs at Lakota East and Lakota West high schools will be action this week.

In girls’ basketball, both Lakota high schools will have to face Princeton this week.

The Vikings are led sophomore Kelsey Mitchell, who is ranked as the No. 1 player overall in the class of 2014 by ESPN HoopGurlz Terrific 25 rankings. So far this season, Mitchell is averaging 25.3 points per game.

Mitchell’s team, meanwhile, is 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Greater Miami Conference. Princeton is also ranked No. 23 in the nation by ESPN.

Lakota East, which has suffered setbacks due to injury, is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the GMC. Lakota West, on the other hand, is 6-4 overall and 2-3 in the GMC.

On the boys’ side, Lakota West (5-2 overall, 3-0 in the GMC) will be tested this week when it hosts Mason (7-1 overall, 2-1 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Currently, the Firebirds are in first place in the GMC. Princeton (7-0 overall, 2-0 in the GMC) and Middletown (5-2 overall, 2-0 in the GMC), however, are both unbeaten in conference play.

See below for the weekly Lakota varsity high school sports schedule:

Tuesday, Jan. 3

Lakota West – gymnastics – at Miamisburg Inv. at 6 p.m.
Lakota East – boys’ basketball – at Sycamore at 7:30 p.m.
Lakota West – boys’ basketball – at Hamilton at 7:30 p.m. (more…)

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: athletic weekly schedule, Kelsey Mitchell, Lakota East, Lakota East athletic schedule, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East bowling, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East wrestling, Lakota West, Lakota West athletic schedule, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West bowling, Lakota West sports, Lakota West wrestling, schedule, sports schedule

The region’s top team, Princeton, defeated the region’s No. 2 team, Lakota East, for the second time this season. On Saturday, Feb. 12, one week after Princeton was given the area’s No. 1 seed in the sectional playoffs, the Vikings were able to defeat Lakota East by the score of 71-55.

The game wrapped up a successful regular season for both programs.

Princeton won its second consecutive conference title and finished with a perfect 20-0 overall record and a 14-0 record within the Greater Miami Conference.

Meanwhile, the Lakota East girls’ basketball program (15-5 overall, 10-4 in GMC) set a record for wins this season with 15. The Thunderhawks’ previous best overall record in program history occurred last season when they finished 13-10 (6-8 in GMC). Prior to that, the school-record was set during the 2000-2001 season when Lakota East finished 8-14.

Freshman Kelsey Mitchell scored a game-high 25 points in Princeton’s latest win against Lakota East. This season, Mitchell is averaging 19.3 points per game.

Mitchell’s senior teammate Shakeira Lang added 18 points for Princeton.

Junior Molly Blomer led Lakota East with 16 points. She also added eight rebounds in the loss. Fellow juniors Whitney Wyckoff (12 points, three steals, two blocks) and Alyssa Grevenkamp (nine points, 10 rebounds) also played well for Lakota East.

The No. 2 seeded Thunderhawks will be back in action next Monday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Kings in the sectional playoffs. They will play the winner of Wednesday’s game between between Turpin (10-6 overall, 7-5 in Fort Ancient Valley Conference) and Western Hills (7-12 overall, 5-6 in Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Alyssa Grevenkamp, basketball, girls' basketball, Kelsey Mitchell, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Molly Blomer, playoffs, Princeton, sectional playoffs, Shakeira Lang, Whitney Wyckoff

Princeton guards Kelsey Mitchell and Shakeira Lang combined to score 46 points in a 65-48 win against Lakota West Jan. 29. With the win, the Vikings improved their overall record to 17-0 and 11-0 within the Greater Miami Conference.

Lakota West actually played the undefeated Vikings close in the first half and trailed 30-23 at halftime. However, Princeton was able to outscore the Firebirds 26-9 in the third quarter.

Mitchell (26 points), who is only freshman, made eight of her 13 field-goal attempts, recorded five assists and three steals in the win. The senior, Lang (20 points), made seven of her 11 field-goal attempts, pulled down four rebounds, dished out three assists and had four steals.

Lakota West junior Summer Reeves scored six points and missed a free-throw attempt, which ended her consecutively made free-throw streak at 18. According to westfirebirds.com, 18 ties the school record.

Juniors Bari Schwartz (12 points, three assists) and Adrianna McNeal (nine points, 11 rebounds) led Lakota West.

With the loss, Lakota West falls to 9-8 overall and 5-6 in the GMC.

This upcoming week, the Firebirds will play at Fairfield (9-8 overall, 5-6 in GMC) Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and then at home against Middletown (0-16 overall, 0-11 in GMC) Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.

Picture provided by Mark Ferland/Ferland Fotos. For more photos of other Lakota West athletic events visit ferlandfotos.smugmug.com.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Adrianna McNeal, Bari Schwartz, Kelsey Mitchell, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Princeton, Shakeira Lang, Summer Reeves

Princeton freshman Kelsey Mitchell took over the basketball game in the second quarter, as the Vikings were able to pull away from Lakota East by the final score of 83-47 Jan. 19. Mitchell, who was coming off a 32-point performance against Midpark (Cleveland, Ohio) on Monday, finished the win against Lakota East with 23 points.

“She has that capability to take over a game,” Princeton head coach Jill Phillips said. “She was a coming off a big performance and she did it again.”

In the early going, Lakota East was able to hang with the defending Greater Miami Conference champions. However, midway through the second quarter, Mitchell caught fire and scored nine unanswered points to give Princeton a 27-12 advantage with 2:55 left in the first half.

Mitchell’s streak was stopped when she fell hard on her back as she scored her ninth straight point. She was forced to leave the game, but quickly checked back in and scored 10 more points in the second half.

“In the heat of the moment you have to produce,” said Mitchell, who made 10 of her 12 field-goal attempts in the win.

Mitchell’s production (averaging 19.2 points per game this season) has drawn the attention of college recruiters throughout the country. Her high school coach said that she “talks to someone” about Mitchell “everyday.”

“They usually have already seen her play, so they don’t need to ask anything,” Phillips said of the college interest.

Phillips admitted that most programs just want to “check in” and “let her know that they are interested.”

“It is cool,” Mitchell said of being a freshman and already receiving college interest. “But I don’t want to brag about it.”

>>>PHOTOS OF PRINCETON AT LAKOTA EAST<<<

Lakota East entered the game in third place in the GMC standings with a 10-2 overall record and a 5-2 mark within the conference. Princeton, who entered the game in first place, improved its perfect record to 14-0 overall and 8-0 in the GMC after defeating the Thunderhawks.

There was some bad news for Princeton, who lost its senior center Neschelle Williams (Ball State commit) with 6:15 left in the game when she landed awkwardly on her ankle. Williams, who finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, was helped off the floor.

Trainers will evaluate Williams on Friday, but early indications are that she will not miss any time.

The good news for Lakota East was the return of junior forward Tazzie Shaw, who received quality minutes for the first time since she injured her ankle against Fairfield Jan. 5. Shaw finished the game with 16 minutes of playing time and a team-high 12 points.

Lakota East will try to rebound from the loss when it takes on Lakota West on the road this Saturday, at 2 p.m. Meanwhile, Princeton will visit Middletown at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

(on other note, Lakota announced, midway through the third quarter, that it would be releasing its students two hours early tomorrow, Jan. 20, due to the impending snow storm – at 6:40 a.m. the following morning school was canceled)

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Jill Phillips, Kelsey Mitchell, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Princeton, Tazzie Shaw

Lakota West lost its second straight Greater Miami Conference game when Princeton defeated the Firebirds by the score of 57-46 Dec. 11.

Princeton outscored Lakota West 19-9 in the third quarter and held a 46-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Vikings only committed 14 turnovers throughout the entire game, while Lakota West turned the ball over 32 times.

Princeton freshman Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 22 points. On Tuesday, Dec. 7, Mitchell scored 26 points in a 66-47 win against Boone County (Ky.). Princeton senior Shakeira Lang added 13 points in the win.

Lakota West senior Ronni Grandison led her team with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Grandison, who has committed to play at the University of Massachusetts, also added four steals. Junior Adrianna McNeal added 10 points and five rebounds off the bench for the Firebirds.

Princeton, which is ranked No. 1 in the Cincinnati Enquirer’s local Division I poll, improves its record to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the GMC. Lakota West falls to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in the GMC.

Next up for Princeton is a home contest against Hamilton Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. Lakota West will be back in action against Colerain at home Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Pictures provided by Mark Ferland/Ferland Fotos. For more photos of this game and other Lakota West athletic events visit ferlandfotos.smugmug.com.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Adrianna McNeal, Kelsey Mitchell, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Princeton, Ronni Grandison, Shakeira Lang