LA GRANGE — The Lady Leopards hoop squad of La Grange High School faced off against Smithville High School Jan. 20 at Leopards Gym and La Grange had the upper hand with a win by a final score of 69-27. La Grange flourished in all aspects with their defense, play design, and shot-making, but it was their full-court press that wreaked havoc on the Lady Tigers to result in easy baskets and layups.
“Press was working really well,” said La Grange head girls basketball coach Heath Golan. “That’s one thing we try to preach because it leaves easy opportunities to score. It just makes it a lot easier for us. When we’re hitting shots like we did in our offensive sets, tonight’s one of those nights where it felt like it was going in. Girls did a great job at both ends of the floor."
Lady Leps senior guard Camille Gonzalez scored eight points for the night and recently came back from a shoulder injury she suffered towards the end of volleyball season. Gonzalez is an essential part to this La Grange team with her senior presence and ability on the floor.
“Being a senior and having an injury is not fun at all,” Gonzalez said. “I was very upset, but I’m very glad to be back and after getting everyone back, our team has really come together and we’re really dominating I think. Now that we’re all back together, it’s just been a lot better. I’m really proud of us.”
La Grange started the game with a layup from Gonzalez, then took a 9-2 lead on a three and two-short baskets, one of them coming from freshman guard Kylie Trlicek. After a pull up three-pointer at the 4:50 mark from Smithville sophomore center Jordyn Brown to make it 9-5, the Lady Leps went on a 10-2 run to close out the quarter with a 19-7 lead on all short baskets with Trlicek being in the mix, as well as sophomore guard Landri Hernandez.
Lady Leps senior Katelyn Allen knocked down a three to start the second quarter before La Grange went on another surge with 10 unanswered points from a few short baskets, one from senior guard Keslyn Davis, and a free throw from Hernandez to make the scoreboard read 29-7. Smithville responded with a long jumper near the baseline from sophomore point guard Chelsea Hendrix and a few free throws that was matched by a buzzer- beating layup on a fast-break from La Grange to go into the locker room at halftime ahead 33-14.
Lady Tigers freshman power forward Ladonije Lewis began the third quarter with a jumper from inside the wing for an and one play, but missed the free throw to make it 33-16. La Grange then went full-smoke and sank 15-straight points, eventually snatching a 56-22 lead at the end of the third quarter.
La Grange kept this pace in the fourth quarter and cruised to a 69-27 victory.
