LAPEL — What started as a blowout turned into a ballgame down the stretch, but the Lapel girls basketball team never faltered as it took down the visiting Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles 52-41 on Monday, Dec. 17.
The Bulldogs jumped to an 11-0 lead after tipoff as first-time starter Lily Daniels’ inside moves accounted for 5 of those early points.
“The game comes naturally to her,” coach Zach Newby said. “When she lets the game come to her, she can do some special things.”
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Daniels finished with 13 points.
Guerin got on the scoreboard when Nicole Cunningham lobbed a 3-pointer from the left side. She scored again at the end of the first period, but the Bulldogs held an 11-5 lead.
Missed Bulldog free throws in the first half and an offensive run by Guerin, particularly Cunningham, challenged the Lapel defense. The Golden Eagles closed the gap to 6 by the end of the second period and were down 25-19.
“I don’t know what it is, but we struggle from the free-throw line early,” Newby said.
He said the team is still learning the importance of four quarters of foul shot opportunities.
In the waning minutes of the game, however, the Bulldogs missed just two from the line.
“We make it when it matters, but I’d to see us make them the entire time,” Newby said.
Although the Bulldogs never trailed in the game, they found themselves fighting off a Guerin team who didn’t want to lose a ninth game. The Golden Eagles pumped in a three at the buzzer to end the third period, cutting the Bulldog lead to 6 at 33-27.
One more basket by Cunningham, and the lead was 4.
A quick Lapel basket followed by a steal by Bulldog Morgan Knepp — who made a long pass down the court to Daniels, who scored from beneath — gave Lapel more breathing room before the final three minutes of the game.
From that point, Guerin never got closer than 7 and began sending Bulldogs to the foul line in the final minute. Kylie Rich and Delaney Peoples sank key free throws to seal the win.
Makynlee Taylor led the Bulldog scoring effort with 16 and was vital to the counter-offensive, grabbing several defensive rebounds and setting up buckets for the Bulldogs.
Newby said Taylor was clearly in attack mode during this game.
“We need kids to attack with pressure and not back away,” he said.
The Bulldogs moved to 8-4 after a 40-32 loss to Monroe Central Dec. 13 and a 44-32 win at Hagerstown Dec 15.
After a Wednesday, Dec. 19, game at Greenfield-Central (after press time), the Bulldogs have a break before traveling to Sheridan Dec. 27.