Lady Cavs finish runners-up in Christmas Classic
Published 9:37 pm Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Warwick won the girls portion of the Lakeland Christmas Classic on Tuesday evening, defeating the host Lady Cavaliers 58-46.
The Lady Raiders held Lakeland’s leading scorer, senior Terika Lunsford to no points until about midway through the third quarter and eight points on the night.
With their leader struggling, Lakeland’s whole offense was cold for most of the game. Except for one Lakeland run late in the third period into the early part of the fourth quarter, Warwick led by double digits most of the contest.
Warwick got out to an 8-0 lead in the first 3:44. The Lady Cavaliers scraped and hustled their way back to being down 13-10 at the end of the period as both sides committed eight turnovers in what was a full-court, hectic game most of the night. Center Tashah Woodus and substitute Porshe Gardner scored four points each in the first period.
Warwick pulled away through the second period, led 28-17 at halftime and was ahead 38-23 before a three-point play off an offensive rebound by Lunsford nearing four minutes left in the third quarter.
With Lunsford’s off-night, guards Kaylyn Chatman and Quanisha Knight kept the Lady Cavaliers in shouting distance, and following Lunsford’s three-point play, Lakeland got closer than that.
A three-pointer by Chatman with six seconds left in the third period made it a 42-33 Warwick lead going to the fourth quarter. A three by Knight on the first possession of the fourth period brought Lakeland within six.
Lakeland cut the margin to four, 46-42, on a basket by Ashley Johnson, with four minutes and counting in the game, but Warwick hung on from there.
Freshman LaQuanda Younger scored 25 points, including all five of Warwick’s three-pointers, to lead the Lady Raiders.
Chatman led Lakeland with 10 points. Lunsford finished with nine points and six rebounds. Knight had nine points and five steals. Johnson had eight points, 10 rebounds and five steals.
Lakeland (3-5, 2-4) returns to Southeastern District play on Tuesday and will host King’s Fork (6-2, 4-1).