Laker sports beat

IMG_7460

TIP AWAY TRY — Lake Region senior Lucy Fowler tries to tip the ball away from a Freeport player. (Rivet Photo)

 

By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

When center Tiana-Jo Carter picked up her third foul with 5:48 left in the third quarter and was forced to the Laker bench, Jordan Turner knew she had to play big.

The 5-foot-7 senior snared three rebounds and sparked the offense with a steal and lay-up as the Lakers answered the challenge and downed the Falcons 60-38 last week in Naples.

Freeport Coach Jim Seavey saw a window of opportunity when Carter headed to the bench. Seavey inserted more size and thought his club could take advantage and rally from a six-point deficit.

Instead, the Lakers pushed the lead to double digits and never looked back.

“We had our chance right there, but didn’t take advantage of it,” Coach Seavey said.

Turner said she and her teammates are always up for a challenge.

“There is more pressure. We have to work harder because we’re not a tall team, so we really have to box out,” she said. “We have a deep bench so we all work really hard when we are on the court. We work harder than every other team, which is the reason we are where we are.”

Carter returned to the floor to start the fourth quarter and the Lakers rolled with an 18-6 run. Carter led the way with nine points, seven from the foul line.

LR Coach Paul True was impressed by his team’s fortitude with Carter out of the game.

“It was huge. Not that we are looking forward to those opportunities by any stretch, but we’ve had a few games which we had to play without ‘T’ on the floor and kids have responded really well,” he said. “I thought we made some big plays and our guards made good decisions. It was a key stretch in the game.”

True credited the team’s surge without their scoring leader to his 5-foot-7 seniors, Turner (six rebounds) and Lucy Fowler (five boards).

IMG_7543

GOOD BODY CONTROL — Lake Region point guard Sarah Hancock glides past a Freeport defender for two points in last week's home victory, 60-38, over the Falcons. (Rivet Photo)

“I thought Jordan played great tonight. Her confidence is developing and getting better with each game,” he said. “She is such a versatile player. She can defend a guard, she can defend a post player, and that’s why she plays a pivotal role for us.”

Fowler chipped in with some big rebounds during Carter’s absence, and has developed into a consistent scoring threat from behind the 3-point arc. She knocked down two against the Falcons.

“I was teasing her that she was having problems with her new contacts so before I put her in at Fryeburg I asked her if she could see the basket. She certainly responded, and tonight she continued,” Coach True said. “Again, they are all capable of doing it. It is just a matter of believing in themselves and taking good shots when opportunities arise.”

Freeport’s senior center Nina Davenport nearly single-handedly kept the game close for a half. Showing outstanding shooting range, Davenport connected on three 3-pointers in the opening period, despite some good perimeter defense by Carter.

The Lakers displayed good ball movement — inside and out — with Carter scoring eight of the team’s 17 points, while Fowler and Kristen Huntress each knocked down a trey.

LR led 17-13 after one, but just when it appeared they would pull away from the Falcons, Davenport drilled two more 3-pointers to finish the half with 19 of her team’s 24 first half points. The Lakers led 29-24 after two.

At halftime, Coach True decided to change up his defense. He had quicker defenders — Turner and point guard Sarah Hancock — take turns guarding Davenport. It worked. Davenport scored just six points in the second half — one trey.

“Not that ‘T’ wasn’t playing good defense, I just made the decision to go with some quickness and keep the ball out of her (Davenport’s) hands and force her to go inside and post up,” Coach True said. “Jordan and Sarah (Hancock) did a great job guarding her.”

Hancock also played a pivotal role during the deciding third quarter. She made a nifty pass to Turner for a inside bucket, scored off a pull-up jumper to make it 35-28 and closed out the quarter with a 3-pointer from the wing to push the LR lead to 11 points.

Although their overall numbers weren’t great on the night (16-for-30), the Lakers pulled away in the fourth by scoring 12 points from the foul line.

Freeport struggled to score, managing just a foul shot over the first five minutes until Davenport (25 points) netted a bucket on a drive to the hoop with 3:21 left in the game. It proved to be the only field goal of the quarter as the Falcons (3-6) were out scored 18-6.

“I thought a couple of times we allowed them to get back into the game — trying to dribble through a couple of kids or not making good decisions — but instantaneously, we went back to being disciplined and were able to extend the lead again,” Coach True said. “We have enough experience and kids that have played a lot of basketball that they are able to handle some constructive criticism and make some changes immediately.”

Turner also thinks the Lakers need to start games better, especially when they meet up with the top contenders in the West.

“We need to start games strong and stick together as a team, not fight amongst ourselves. We’re a work in progress,” she said. “We butt heads from time to time, but we have some good leaders that bring the team back together.  We look forward to the challenges some teams bring. We work harder in practice and we’re up for teams that will give us some competition.”

Carter paced the Lakers (8-1) with a game-high 28 points, 15 rebounds and two blocked shots.

Other scorers were: Sarah Hancock 9, Sierra Hancock 6, Fowler 6, Turner 6, Huntress 3 and Miranda Chadbourne 2.

Stat Lines

Turnovers: LR 14, FREE 23

Free Throws: LR 16-300, FREE 9-16

Rebounds: LR 33, FREE 25

LR leading rebounders: Carter 15, Turner 6, Fowler 5, Huntress 3, Sa. Hancock 3.

Up next: The Lakers travel to Falmouth tonight, Jan. 16, for a 7:30 p.m. game and to Kennebunk on Monday for a 5 p.m. game. The next home game is next Friday, Jan. 24 against Greely at 6:30 p.m.

Higher flyers

Jordan Turner scored 15 points and Tiana-Jo Carter added 13 points and 14 rebounds Tuesday night to lead Lake Region to a 62–37 victory against Waynflete (5–4). It was the seventh straight victory for the Lakers.

After a tight first quarter, 22–16, the Lakers increased their lead and took control of the game with a 18–3 run. LR kept their foot on the pedal with a 15–6 third quarter en route to their 10th victory.

Sierra Hancock tossed in 9 points, while Kristen Huntress added 7, Miranda Chadbourne 5, Spencer True 5, Sarah Hancock 2, Lucy Fowler 2 and Meghan VanLoan had 2 points.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Lake Region is likely opening a few eyes across Class B West.

Sam Smith made five three-pointers and finished with a game-high 17 points to lead the Lakers (7–4) to a 67–51 victory over Waynflete (8–2) at Portland Tuesday night.

The victory was the sixth straight win for the Lakers, who climbed to Number 5 in Tuesday’s Heal Rating.

Jackson Lesure added 16 points for Lake Region and Mark Williams scored 15.

The Lakers started quick with a 19–8 run and enjoyed a 38–24 halftime lead. The teams played to near draws in the second half — 12–12 and 17–15, Lakers by two.

Other LR scorers were: Quinn Piland 8, Nate Smith 5, Ben Chaine 4 and Marcus DeVoe 2.

At Freeport, the Lakers poured in 47 first half points to open up a 20-point lead at intermission to cruise past the Falcons.

Nick Hall scored a career-best 20 points, while Sam Smith tossed in 17 points, including five three-pointers. Mark Williams added 11 points and Quinn Piland contributed 10 points. Other scorers were: Jack Lesure 9, Nate Smith 7, Marcus DeVoe 4, Alex Langadas 2, Brandon Palmer 2 and Tyler Walker 2.

On Saturday, Sam Smith showed he is as deadly at the foul line as he is from behind the three-point arc. The senior guard netted 6-of-6 foul shots in the fourth quarter as the Lakers pulled away from Gray-New Gloucester, 61–51, at Nutting Gymnasium.

Smith finished with 18 points. Jack Lesure added 13 while Nate Smith and Mark Williams each connected for 9 points. Other LR scorers were Quinn Piland 8, Marcus DeVoe 2 and Ben Chaine had 2 points.

Up next: The Lakers face a tall task Friday when they host top-ranked Falmouth (10–1 in Class A West) at 7 p.m. The Lakers then host Kennebunk (3–8 in Class A West) at 5 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK

GORHAM — The “rookies” answered the call in the season opening indoor track meet for Lake Region.

“Half of our team is comprised of first-time team members and we did not miss an event!  Typically, there is so much confusion at the first meet that a few people miss an event,” Lake Region Coach Mark Snow said. “I am proud that our veterans were able to help the ‘rookies’ make it to all their events.”

Junior Kate Hall set league records in the Senior 55m, Sr 200m and the long jump.  Last year, she broke these records a few times, so Coach Snow anticipates the same this year.

“Kate’s time of 25.17 in the 200 meters is also the fastest 200 meter time ever by a Maine schoolgirl,” Coach Snow reported. “That time ranks #14 in the country and #1 in New Englands for this season.”

A few LR athletes overcame nervousness of a new event and placed in the meet! Meghan Boos finished second in the Jr 55m hurdles and fourth in the Jr high jump. Catherine Christiansen was third in the Jr high jump and Amy Angelone was third in the Sr high jump.

Last year, Ben Roy and Nick Scarlett raced each other many times in the 800 meters.  Their battles became a “must see” each week.  The same will probably happen this year.  On Friday at the University of Southern Maine field house in Gorham, Nick took the lead with a 35 second first lap and held on to earn top Laker status for week one.  Earlier in the meet, both boys notched personal records (PRs) in other events.  Ben threw the shot put 32-feet 1-inch for a PR and Nick long jumped over 15 feet for the first time.

Three other girls placed in the meet:  Dani LaPointe was fifth in the Sr shot put (21-feet 4-inches); Elizabeth Schreiber was fifth in the triple jump (27-feet 1.75-inches); and Zoe Snow was sixth in the Jr shot put (17-feet 9.5-inches).

The Laker girls were fifth out of the eight school meet.

This Friday, Jan. 17th, is the Lakers only “early” meet at USM.  The meet starts at 3:30 p.m.  The two other regular season meets will start at 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ Events

Jr 200 Meters

29. Meghan Boos, 34.97

Jr 400 Meters

10. Catherine Christiansen, 1:15.23

Jr 55 Hurdles

2. Meghan Boos, 11.0

Jr High Jump

3. Catherine Christiansen, 3-10

4. Meghan Boos, 3-10

Jr Shot Put

6. Zoe Snow, 17-9.50

Sr 55 Meters

1. Kate Hall, 7.12

10. Casey Heath, 8.60

15. Kira Olsen, 9.13

20. Destinee Durant, 9.42

21. Amy Angelone, 9.53

23. Nicole Fox, 9.73

Sr 200 Meters

1. Kate Hall, 25.17

11. Casey Heath, 31.46

22. Destinee Durant, 35.91

Sr 4X200 Relay

4. Casey Heath, Destinee Durant, Kira Olsen, Kate Hall, 2:04.60

Sr. High Jump

3. Amy Angelone, 3-10

Sr Shot Put

5. Danielle LaPointe, 21-4

6. Amy Angelone, 20-2

7. Nicole Fox, 18-9

Open 800 Meters

12. Addie Blais, 2:59.11

Open One Mile

12. Addie Blais, 6:21.57

Open Long Jump

1. Kate Hall, 18-5.75

9. Casey Heath, 13-1

13. Elizabeth Schreiber, 12-6.50

Open Triple Jump

 5. Elizabeth Schreiber, 27-1.75

Boys’ Events

Sr Shot Put

13. Ben Roy, 32-1

Open 800 Meters

24. Nick Scarlett, 2:39.87

28. Ben Roy, 2:44.38

Open Long Jump

13. Nick Scarlett, 15-0.25

 

Â