The ninth-ranked Lady Lions (14-5) wanted to know if they were ready to move into the elite status in Region 8-A and the rest of the state. They got their answer.
Behind 24 points from Hannah Bennett, including five 3-pointers, and 22 points from Chelsey Chastain inside, Lakeview never trailed by more than 14 and hung with the Lady Indians until the very end.
They trailed 21-14 at the end of the first quarter but cut that to 29-26 by halftime. The Indians ran out to a 48-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter but the Lady Lions used a late rally to get within four points.
Coach Buster Brown said before the game Tuesday that holding down the Lady Indians' Shekiya Tarpkins was the key. Tarpkins lit up Lakeview for 30 points, including several key free throws down the stretch.
The Lady Lions' troubles came from the outside where Hillary Stanford and Diana Briggs were held to 0-for-8 shooting.
Stanford, who had been averaging nearly 13 points a game the last two weeks, was held to just two free throws and 0-for-5 shooting - 0-for-4 from 3-point range - for the game. She finished with five rebounds. Briggs had no points but dished out 6 assists.
Christi Thomas finished with 9, five below her season average, for Lakeview.
The Lady Lions get little chance to rest as they play host to Towns County friday night. It will be a battle for first place in Region 8-A North and Towns beat Lakeview earlier in the season.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/1/164988