GAINESVILLE -- If nothing else, Lakeview Academy girls basketball coach John Carrick discovered Friday night that his team can win an ugly game when not at its best.
Although, ugly may not be a strong enough adjective to describe the Lady Lions' 46-30 victory over Athens Christian in Region 8-A action at the Lakeview gym.
"That was probably the worst game we've played all year," Carrick said. "Somehow we won that, although there isn't a single area I thought we did well. We couldn't shoot well, we couldn't dribble, we didn't handle the ball well. I couldn't find a positive anywhere."
Carrick's concern came from the standpoint that the Lady Lions (13-6, 9 -1 Region 8-A) are fighting for a top seeding in the upcoming region tournament.
"We won't beat any real good teams playing like that," Carrick said. "We're too far along in the season to play a game that bad. You could give credit to the other team but I don't think (Athens Christian) played very well either."
Lakeview never trailed in the game but there was little flow to the game, especially in the first half. Lakeview ran out to a 6-0 lead to open the game and pushed its early lead to 9-2 on a 3-pointer by Hannah Grogan with 1:57 left in the first quarter and led 10-4 heading into the second quarter.
Athens Christian (10-4, 7-4) would rally in the second, using an 8-5 run, capped by a basket from Abby Resop with 1:57 left in the half. Lakeview would close out the first half with a 5-0 run, all by Grogan, for a 20-12 lead.
But neither offense could find a rhythm in the first half combining for 19 turnovers, 12 by the Lady Eagles. Neither team could find a range from the field. Lakeview was just 1-for-10 from 3-point range while Athens Christian was 0-for-5 in the first half.
The first half ended with the Athens Christian coach receiving a technical foul and the second half began with Grogan draining a pair of free throws as a result. That would spark several good minutes in the third quarter to help Lakeview pull away from the Lady Eagles.
The Lady Lions used a 15-5 run in the third quarter, highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers from Ainsley Cash and a pair of assists by Grogan, for a 35-19 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Grogan would finish with 16 points, six rebounds, four steals, and three assists to lead Lakeview. Cash added eight points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals for the Lady Lions. Danielle Morgan had seven rebounds for Lakeview.
"Hannah played well for the most part. We wouldn't have won without her effort," Carrick said. "I thought we had a little more intensity in the third quarter but not where it needs to be."
Lakeview extended its lead to 44-21 midway through the fourth before the Lady Eagles closed out the game with a 9-2 run against the Lakeview subs.
The Lakeview defense did swipe 14 steals for the game.
Charity Williams paced Athens Christian with eight points.
Tuesday
April 16th, 2024
2:58PM
