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Four different Firebirds scored in double figures Monday, as Lakota West defeated Mount Notre Dame by the score of 63-52 in the season opener for both teams.

Lakota West took the lead early and continued to pull away, before getting out to 16-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

Pacing the Firebirds were freshman Nia Staples (11 points, 7 rebounds), sophomore Lauren Cannatelli (10 points, 4 steals), senior Rachel Tomasic (15 points, 3 steals) and sophomore Lara Aull (11 points in only 12:58 minutes of playing time).

As a team, Lakota West made 50 percent (6-of-12) of its three-point shots while the Cougars only made 20 percent (2-of-10). Helping with overall team’s shooting numbers (made 46 percent of their shots) was Tomasic, who was 4-of-4 from the floor (3-of-3 from three-point range) and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Her 15 points was a career high.

Meanwhile, Staples led Lakota West with 7 rebounds in her first varsity game. Fellow freshman Danielle Wells led the team with four assists. Both freshmen started the game for the Firebirds.

Lakota West – No. 6 in The Cincinnati Enquirer preseason coaches’ poll – will host Oak Hills Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in its home opener. Oak Hills (0-1) is coming off a 52-31 loss to Alter on Saturday and will play at Turpin on Tuesday before facing the Firebirds.

Lakota West	18	14	13	18	63
Mount Notre Dame	15	11	6	20	52

Lakota West (1-0) - Wells 1 2 4, Staples 2 6 11, Cannatelli 2 5 10, Carter 2 1 5, Tomasic 4 4 15, Aull 3 4 11, Kivell 0 1 1, Wasan 3 0 6. Totals: 17 23 63.

Mount Notre Dame (0-1) - South 1 0 2, Davenport 4 0 8, Carlin 3 2 8, Duncan 4 1 9, Lamb 0 1 1, Scholz 0 11, Crace 2 1 5, Kissel 6 4 18. Totals: 20 10 52.

Halftime: Lakota West 32-26. 3-pointers LW 6 (Tomasic 3, Staples, Cannatelli, Aull); MND 2 (Kissel 2).

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Tags: Tags: Danielle Wells, Danielle Wells Lakota West, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West basketball preview, Lakota West sports, Lara Aull, Lauren Cannatelli, Lauren Cannatelli Lakota West, Nia Staples, Nia Staples Lakota West, Rachel Tomasic

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