Regional Sports

February 9, 2023 The Bridgton News, Page 7A

LR notches #13, next up playoffs

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FINISHING out the regular season in strong fashion, scoring a team-high 18 points Tuesday in a win over Cape Elizabeth. (Rivet

By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer

After two stinging losses, Lake Region righted the ship to enter tournament season on a win streak.

The Lakers, under firstyear Head Coach Doug Banks, captured win #13 on Senior Night with a 49-44 victory over Cape Elizabeth. The win nailed down the #5 seed in the Class B South tournament at the Banks Exposition Building with a date with #4 Medomak Valley (126).

The last time the Lakers saw the Capers, it was somewhat of a cake walk, a 20-point victory. With center Ava Smith out, the Lakers had their hands full. Cape (4-14) took a 14-12 lead in the first behind a hot start from Olivia Manning, who scored nine of her game-high 19 points.

The Lakers stormed back with a 16-7 run in the second behind sophomore Margo Tremblay’s 7 points. Tremblay went 5-for-7 from the foul stripe in the first half, and finished the night 7-of-11 for a teamhigh 18 points.

The Capers inched closer in the third with a 13-9 advantage as the Lakers held just a 37-34 lead. In the fourth, Bella Smith (14 points) netted a pair of buckets, Tremblay knocked down a trey and Abby Lavoie sank a pair of foul shots (she was 4-for-4 from the stripe) to keep the Lakers on top.

Senior Melissa Mayo sank a pair of 3-pointers in the first half, but managed just a free throw in the fourth quarter. She closed out her LR career with a 10-point night — and with a win!

Jordan Blanton chipped in two points.

Bounce Back Game Free throw shooting has been a bit of a bugaboo for the Lakers this season. Coach Banks’ crew had a chance to work on it at Yarmouth, visiting the charity stripe 29 times.

LR shooters made more foul shots (17) than field goals (14), but managed to pull away from the Clippers with a 49-34 victory.

Ava Smith scored 6 of her 9 points in the opening quarter as the Lakers jumped out to a 16-7 lead. Abby Lavoie netted the lone field goal of the second period as the Lakers put up just 5 points, but still had an 8-point lead at the break.

LR opened some distance in the third with a 13-5 run as Melissa Mayo (9 points) knocked down a 3-pointer and Margo Tremblay (9 points) connected on two buckets and two foul shots.

Bella Smith provided the dagger as she netted a pair of shots and dropped a 3-pointer to finish the night as the game’s high scorer with 13 points.

Abby Lavoie chipped in 6 points, and Kasey Johnson converted a 3-pointer.