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Tom Ramstetter reports:

Lakota East scored in bunches and used several scoring runs Friday night in a 64-51 win over Princeton in a Greater Miami Conference boys’ basketball game at Princeton.

East, ranked No. 3 in the latest Enquirer Division I coaches’ poll, moved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the GMC. Princeton fell to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference. The Vikings are tied with Middletown for the No. 7 spot in the Division I poll.

The Thunderhawks opened the game on a 9-0 run and started the second half on a 7-0 run, providing the cushion needed to escape with a conference road win.

“We have the ability to score in bunches,” Lakota East coach Wally Vickers said. “It doesn’t matter when you get them. I’ll take a bunch here and a bunch there. But the quick start in the game and the second half were certainly important factors.

“To go on the road in our league can be a tough hill, so I was really proud of us.”

Senior guard Robbie Harpring led the 9-0 to start the game and finished the quarter with nine points.

Harpring finished with a team high 15 points.

“We always come out pumped up,” Harpring said. “As a team, we always want to come out and win the first three minutes. That’s what we did – we won the first three minutes.”

Princeton did not get on the board until a Darius Hilson put-back with 4:26 to play in the opening quarter.

“That’s a great thing for us,” Harpring said. “The team came out ready to play and it’s big when you’re on the road.”

The Thunderhawks’ 7-0 run to start the second half built 38-25 lead and East led 42-36 heading into the final period.

Princeton rallied to within 45-40 early in the fourth quarter, but the Thunderhawks responded with a 7-0 run midway through the fourth and led 52-40 after a 3-pointer by Stedman Lowry.

The Vikings cut it to 52-43 on a on a traditional 3-point play by senior guard Dorian Jordan, but sophomore center Alex White answered for East with a layup and then two free throws on the following possession to start an 8-0 run. Two free throws each by Dylan Lowry and Harpring gave East a 60-43 lead and that was that.

“At that point, we were frustrated ourselves because we really didn’t get it inside much,” Vickers said. “We struggled to execute at times, even when we were scoring. We just kept saying we’ve got to get it inside. We’ve got to get it to Alex. We got it to him a couple times late and we got what we wanted from it.”

Jordan led all scorers with 17 points for Princeton.

Harpring led three Thunderhawks in double figures. Stedman Lowry added 11 and Austin Emrick scored 10.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that can make shots,” Vickers said. “Robbie got a lot of opportunities tonight especially early and showed he’s capable of making shots. We’ve got a lot of guys that can do it, that’s for sure.”

Lakota East will play at cross-district rival Lakota West Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. in a non-league game between the two GMC schools, according to Vickers.

“So to me this was the important one,” Vickers said. “This was the have-to-win (for the GMC race).”

The Vikings will seek to regroup Tuesday night at Colerain when the Cardinals and Vikings will tip off at 7:30 p.m.

Lakota East (6-0, 2-0 GMC): Emrick 5 0 10, Harpring 6 2 15, S. Lowry 4 0 11, D. Lowry 1 2 5, Panzeca 2 0 4, Baxter 3 3 9, White 3 4 10. Totals 24 11 64.

Princeton (2-1, 1-1): Jordan 6 3 17, Tivis 4 0 8, Abrams 1 0 2, Hilson 3 0 6, Bosel 3 0 6, Blevins 1 1 3, Walters 3 3 9. Totals 21 7 51.

Halftime: Lakota East 31-25. 3-pointers: LE 5 (S. Lowry 3, Harpring, D. Lowry), P 2 (Jordan 2).

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Tags: Tags: Alex White, Alex White Lakota East, Lakota East, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Rob Harpring, Robbie Harpring, Stedman Lowry, Stedman Lowry Lakota East, Wally Vickers, Wally Vickers Lakota East

Last year was special for the Lakota East basketball program. The senior-lead team broke numerous school records, won its first-ever outright Greater Miami Conference title, its first-ever district title and advanced further in the postseason than it had ever before.

This winter, Lakota East head coach Wally Vickers hopes to maintain that championship level.

However, will the young Thunderhawks experience some growing pains after losing leaders Jalen Goodwin, R.J. Leppert, Brian Evans, Jeff Cargill, Cameron Lee and Michael Boyd due to graduation?

“Growing pains? I don’t know. What I know, is that on Friday, Dec. 2 (season opener), we are going to expect to win,” Vickers said.

“We feel that we have a chance to be very, very good. We are young, but we are not surprised that last year’s seniors graduated … That is the nature of high school basketball. The challenge is to maintain that level.”

Maintaining that level became a bit more difficult after returning senior Mark Minch, who recently committed to Ohio Dominican University and averaged 7.5 points per game last season, dislocated and broke his ankle during a scrimmage Nov. 11. (more…)

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Tags: Tags: Dylan Lowry, Lakota East, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Myo Baxter, Rob Harpring, Robbie Harpring, Stedman Lowry, Wally Vickers, Wally Vickers Lakota East, Walter Vickers, Walter Vickers Lakota East

Lakota East senior Michael Boyd, who was named the Greater Miami Conference Boys’ Basketball Athlete of the Year this winter, will make an appearance in the Division I-II Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association North-South All-Star basketball game this Sunday, April 17, at 5:30 p.m. at Capital University in Columbus.

Boyd joins fellow local athlete Ryan Fleming of La Salle on the south roster. Fleming is replacing La Salle teammate Brandon Neel. La Salle won the Division I state title this season. Fleming, who has signed on to play at Northern Kentucky University, led his team in rebounding (4.9 per game) and assists (3.0 per game). He also averaged 8.8 points per game. Neel averaged a team-leading 14.6 points per game this season.

This past season, Boyd led his team in scoring and in assists. He averaged 11.5 points and 3.9 assists per game. Boyd, who was recently named to the Division I AP All-Ohio Second Team, also averaged 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game.

St. Xavier coach Scott Martin will be the co-head coach in the all-star event, while Lakota East head coach Wally Vickers is the game’s director. Vickers was named the GMC and the Division I AP All-Ohio Coach of the Year this season.

Boyd and Vickers helped Lakota East win its first outright GMC title this season. Overall, the Thunderhawks finished with a 23-2 record and a 13-1 mark within the GMC. Lakota East also advanced to the regional semifinals in the state playoffs this season.

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Tags: Tags: All-Star, All-Star game, basketball, boys' basketball, Brandon Neal, Division I-II Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association North-South All-Star basketball game, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Michael Boyd, Mike Boyd, Ryan Fleming, Scott Martin, Wally Vickers

Between Lakota East and Lakota West, 10 players and one coach were honored when the Greater Miami Conference announced its All-Conference teams this month.

On the boys’ side, Lakota East head coach Wally Vickers was named GMC Coach of the Year. Vickers led the Thunderhawks to their first outright GMC title and to their first district championship. As a team, Lakota East finished the year with a 23-2 overall record and a 13-1 mark within the GMC.

Four of Vickers’ seniors were also honored by the GMC. Michael Boyd (12.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game) was named the GMC Athlete of the Year. Teammate R.J. Leppert (7.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game) joined Boyd on the GMC All-Conference First Team. Fellow seniors Jalen Goodwin (8.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game) and Cameron Lee (9.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game) were named to the GMC All-Conference Second Team.

From Lakota West, sophomore Monty Boykins (13.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game) was named to the GMC All-Conference First Team and senior Phillip Cook (10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game) was named to the GMC All-Conference Second Team.

On the girls’ side, Lakota East had three players honored: Junior Alyssa Grevenkamp (9.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game) and junior Whitney Wyckoff (12.5 points and 4.6 rebounds) were named to the GMC All-Conference First Team, while junior Molly Blomer (10.8 points and 6.2 rebounds) was named to the GMC All-Conference Second Team.

From Lakota West, senior Ronni Grandison, who will play basketball at the University of Massachusetts, was named to the GMC All-Conference Second Team.

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Tags: Tags: Alyssa Grevenkamp, basketball, boys' basketball, Cameron Lee, girls' basketball, Jalen Goodwin, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Michael Boyd, Molly Blomer, Monty Boykins, Phil Cook, Phillip Cook, R.J. Leppert, Ronni Grandison, Wally Vickers, Walter Vickers, Whitney Wyckoff

The record-setting season for the boys’ basketball team at Lakota East High School ended last Thursday, March 17, when it lost to No. 1 seed Westerville South by the score of 64-58 in the Division I regional semifinal at the Columbus Fairgrounds Coliseum.

The Thunderhawks actually lead at halftime 30-23, but were outscored 41-28 in the second half.

Leading the comeback was Westerville South senior Traevon Jackson, who scored 20 of his game-high 24 points in the second half. Jackson, who has signed on to play basketball at Wisconsin, also added six assists and converted 15 of his 19 free-throw attempts.

“He’s really good,” Lakota East coach Wally Vickers told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He (Jackson) was able to get away with a lot. But there’s no sour grapes – he’s a heck of a player.”

After defeating Lakota East, Westerville went on to beat Columbus Northland by the score of 80-62 in the regional final Saturday, March 19.

The season was special for the Thunderhawks, who won their first-ever outright Greater Miami Conference title and their first district championship this winter. Furthermore, Lakota East’s appearance in the regional semifinal marks the furthest the program has advanced in the state tournament in school history.

The loss also marks the end of the high school careers of six seniors: Jalen Goodwin, R.J. Leppert, Brian Evans, Jeff Cargill, Cameron Lee and Michael Boyd.

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Tags: Tags: basketball, boys' basketball, Brian Evans, Cameron Lee, Jalen Goodwin, Jeff Cargill, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Michael Boyd, playoffs, R.J. Leppert, regional semifinal, regional semifinals, Wally Vickers, Walter Vickers

Lakota East (22-1 overall, 13-1 in the GMC) will face Princeton (18-4 overall, 11-3 in the GMC) this Saturday, March 12, at 8:45 p.m. at the University of Dayton Arena for the district title. It will be the third time the Greater Miami Conference rivals will have played one another this season. Lakota East has won both of the previous games, however both contests were decided late.

“They are very good and we expect another good one. Both of the previous games came down to the wire and we were fortunate enough to win both of them,” Lakota East head coach Wally Vickers said. “They defend really well, they rebound really well and they shoot the three really well and have making many of those threes, especially in the last month of the season.”

In the last game between the two rivals, Princeton outrebounded Lakota East 36-to-26, but made only seven of its 27 three-point attempts. This postseason, the Vikings have been more consistent from three-point range – making 13 of their 24 three-point attempts in their two postseason games.

Princeton has also received more scoring this postseason from junior guard Malcolm Smith, who is averaging 17.5 points per game this postseason. In those two regular season matchups between the two schools, Smith averaged only 2.5 points per game.

“They are in some ways like us in that they have different people who can lead them in scoring game in and game out,” Vickers said. “He (Smith) is playing really well right now and we are very aware of him and what he brings…he is someone who we are going to have to defend well.”

Lakota East will be aiming for its first-ever district title, something its girls’ team accomplished last weekend. Meanwhile, Princeton has more postseason success of late, advancing all the way to the state final in 2009.

The winner of the game will play the winner of the Westerville South/New Albany game next Thursday, March 17, at 7 p.m. at the Columbus Fairgrounds Coliseum. The Westerville/New Albany game will take place this Friday, March 11, at 6 p.m. at the Columbus Fairgrounds Coliseum.

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Tags: Tags: basketball, boys' basketball, district final, district finals, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Malcolm Smith, playoffs, postseason, Princeton, state tournament, Wally Vickers, Walter Vickers

Comparing the records between No. 2 seed Lakota East (20-1 overall, 13-1 in the Greater Miami Conference) and No. 33 seed Hughes (1-19 overall, 0-12 in the Cincinnati Metro Conference), it would appear as though the Thunderhawks should easily advance to Saturday’s district semifinals.

“Hughes has good team quickness. Our ball defense will have to improve from our first tournament game,” Lakota East head coach Wally Vickers said. “No game is any more or less important in the tournament. Each game is an elimination game.”

In East’s first postseason game, Vickers’ team cruised to an 80-44 win against Talawanda. Prior to that, Lakota East was upset 66-65 by Middletown in the season finale despite leading 47-32 heading into the fourth quarter. It was the team’s only loss of the year.

“Our team took the loss hard,” Vickers said. “We got away from being who we are in the fourth quarter. Middletown is a very good team, but we feel we beat ourselves.”

If Lakota East can avoid another letdown than it would face the winner of the St. Xavier and Loveland game this Saturday, March 5 at 4:30 p.m. at the Cintas Center.

The St. X/Loveland game will tip off tonight at 6:30 p.m. Following that game, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Lakota East will take on Hughes.

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Tags: Tags: basketball, boys' basketball, Hughes, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Wally Vickers, Walter Vickers

Lakota East (19-0 overall, 13-0 in the Greater Miami Conference) will attempt to do something that hasn’t been done in the GMC for 30 years, according to the Pulse Journal, and finish the regular season with a 20-0 record when it visits Middletown (15-4 overall, 10-3 in GMC) tonight, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m.

The Thunderhawks head coach Wally Vickers and his team has been enjoying the memorable ride this season, but is not thinking about the record or wrapping the regular season.

“We are just enjoying what is going on. It has been great, being with these guys, taking it one day at a time and we are not thinking at all about wrapping anything up,” Vickers said. “That is the furthest thing on my mind, we plan on playing for awhile.”

Win or lose tonight, Lakota East will open the postseason as the region’s No. 2 seed next Saturday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. against No. 31 seed Talawanda (5-13 overall, 3-9 in Fort Ancient Valley Conference) at Lakota West High School.

Meanwhile, Middletown is fresh off a 20-point win over previously unbeaten Moeller on Tuesday, Feb. 15, night and is seeking revenge after a 67-39 thrashing it took from Lakota East in early January.

Vickers admitted that, depending on the makeup of the team, suffering a loss before the postseason can benefit a team. He, however, is not concerned with his group.

“If you haven’t lost then there could be a little bit of a trap there, but I am not concerned about that with this team,” Vickers said. “We are going to have a heck of a battle on our hands Friday night at Middletown, but if we get it done and we are 20-0 and rolling in the tournament this group has the mentality to handle that situation.”

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Tags: Tags: basketball, boys' basketball, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Middletown, Wally Vickers, Walter Vickers

Both the Lakota West and Lakota East boys’ basketball programs were given their seed for the 2011 southwest district sectional tournament this past Sunday, Feb. 13, afternoon. Lakota West was given the No. 15 seed, while Lakota East received the No. 2 seed.

Many fans of the Greater Miami Conference were upset to hear that Lakota East, which is currently 19-0 overall and 13-0 in the GMC, was given the No. 2 seed. Opinion from GMC loyalists was that the Thunderhawks’ schedule was much more difficult than that Moeller, who received the No. 1 seed and is currently 18-0 overall and 9-0 in the Greater Catholic League.

“It’s inconsequential,” Lakota East head coach Wally Vickers said of not receiving the top seed. “I knew we would be No. 1 or No. 2 – they are undefeated, we are undefeated – so we absolutely have no feelings about that either way.”

The Thunderhawks will begin postseason play against No. 31 Talawanda (5-13 overall, 3-9 in Fort Ancient Valley Conference) next Saturday, Feb. 26, at Lakota West. The winner plays No. 33 Hughes (1-17 overall, 0-11 in Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference) March 2 at 8 p.m. at Princeton. (more…)

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Tags: Tags: Ali Barnes, basketball, boys' basketball, Jackson Blue, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Monty Boykins, Phil Cook, Phillip Cook, Sean VanWinkle, Wally Vickers, Walter Vickers

The Lakota East boys’ basketball program clinched its first outright Greater Miami Conference title when it defeated the defending GMC champs Princeton last night, Feb. 8, by the score of 57-49.

With the win, the Thunderhawks (18-0 overall, 12-0 in GMC) equaled their school record for wins in a season with 18. Lakota East’s current 18-game winning streak is also a school record.

>>>PHOTOS: LAKOTA EAST AT PRINCETON<<<

Meanwhile, the loss, moved Princeton (14-4 overall, 9-3 in GMC), who has been either the outright GMC champs or shared the title for the past three seasons, into a three-way tie for second place in the conference standings.

In last night’s game, Lakota East fell behind early, trailing 11-5 after the first quarter. However, the Thunderhawks went on a 9-0 run to end the first half and led 22-16 at halftime.

Princeton was able to cut Lakota East’s lead to 43-42 with 4:37 left to play, but were then outscored 14-7 the rest of the way.

After the game, Lakota East head coach Wally Vickers (photo) told Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Mark Schimetzer that he credited his six seniors for accomplishing the GMC championship.

“I know how much they’ve committed and what they’ve put into this,” Vickers told the Enquirer. “They’re special.”

That senior group, who all contributed in the win, includes Cameron Lee (four points, three rebounds), Jalen Goodwin (15 points, five rebounds), R.J. Leppert (11 points, seven rebounds), Jeff Cargill (one block), Michael Boyd (11 points, seven assists, six rebounds) and Brian Evans (nine points).

Senior guard Ulysses Thomas led Princeton with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Before last night’s game, the Thunderhawks moved up two spots to No. 4 in the Associated Press state basketball poll. They also fell two spots to No. 3 in the Cincinnati Enquirer coaches’ poll.

Lakota East has two games left in the regular season, against Colerain this Friday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and at Middletown next Friday, Feb. 18, at 7:30 p.m. The sectional playoff draw is scheduled to take place this Sunday, Feb. 13, at Princeton at 2 p.m.

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Tags: Tags: basketball, boys' basketball, Brian Evans, Cameron Lee, Jalen Goodwin, Jeff Cargill, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Michael Boyd, Princeton, R.J. Leppert, Wally Vickers, Walter Vickers