by Tonight the 3-3 Lakewood Rangers Girls Varsity Basketball team hosted the 6-1 Normandy Invaders. Lakewood had won the last 3 games coming into tonight. Normandy was riding a 6-game win streak after dropping their first game of the season. The Invaders stayed hot with a 42-38 victory.
Lakewood seemingly had Normandy’s number when it came to defense in the first half. Normandy made adjustments at halftime and looked like a totally different team starting the second half. Both teams played impressive defense led by Ally Bookman and Delaney Garcia who each had 3 steals. The Invaders defense was led by Emily Queener and Izzy Akin also with 3 steals each.
The game started out quickly as Lakewood won the tip-off and promptly got the ball to Ava Carroll who quickly made her way down the court and made the basket to get Lakewood on the board. Lakewood’s defense was stifling in the first quarter, out-scoring Normandy 14-6. Normandy’s defense shone through as well, collecting 5 steals in the first quarter alone.
Great defense continued throughout the second quarter. Normandy’s Cailyn Wagner tied the game at 16 all with 2:30 left in the half. Delaney Garcia led Lakewood in scoring in the quarter to increase Lakewood’s lead at the half 25-19.
The second half was all Normandy. They kept Lakewood scoreless in the 3rd quarter, helping to catch up and take the lead by the end of the 3rd quarter 28-25. Emily Queener led the scoring in the third quarter, with 5 of the 9 points scored by Queener in the 3rd.
Down the stretch both teams tightened up and fought hard for the final 8 minutes. Normandy was quick out of the gate again in the 4th with 6 quick points by Akin, Summer Ibrahim and Queener.
This put the Invaders up 34-26 early in the 4th. Both defenses fought hard with 7 total steals in the final 8 minutes. Lakewood worked the ball down the court and made a tremendous effort to try to retake the lead.
The last minute came down to free throws, as Lakewood tried to stop Normandy from running out the clock. Lakewood was nearly successful but just came up short with a final of 42-38
I spoke with Normandy Head Coach Joe Perella about the adjustments that he and his team had to make to deal with Lakewood’s tough defense. “We decided to stay away from the full court pressure. They did a nice job reading our pressure. We are a much better 1-3-1 team.” Coach Perella believes that changed the complexion of the game in favor of Normandy.
Lakewood_14|11|0|13 38
Normandy__6|13|9|14 42
