RINGGOLD, Ga. — If you listen to Jasmain Carey, the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Lady Warriors are nowhere close to being where they can be as a team. Talk to a few Southeast Whitfield Lady Raiders and you might think otherwise.
The Lady Warriors turned a four-point deficit early in the second half into a comfortable, if not textbook, 45-34 win in the thrice-delayed Sub-Region 6-AAA North basketball tournament at Heritage Wednesday.
Jackie Shadack scored 10 of her team-high 15 points to spark a 16-3 run to end the third period. While Shadack starred on the offensive end, it was actually the LFO defense which turned the game around.
“We looked up and saw they were ahead and we knew we had to turn it on,” said Carey, the tournament MVP who had 12 points and 13 rebounds. “We have a long way to go to get where we need to be, but we’re getting there.”
LFO coach Dewayne Watkins, while lamenting the team’s 20 turnovers as it still searches for consistent play in the backcourt, was pleased with the effort. After all, he was quick to point out the last meeting between the teams saw the Lady Raiders lead by 17 at the half before LFO (22-5) rallied to win in overtime.
“This team causes us problems,” Watkins said. “Any team that speeds us up is going to because we don’t have a true point guard. We just had to grind it out, and that’s probably what we’re going to have to do from now on. We still have high goals for the season. Every team has defencicies and we have to find a way to make what we have work.”
The LFO turnaround began with two Shadack free throws at the 4:46 mark of the third period. Michelle Morgan gave the Lady Warriors the lead for good with a three-point play and Shadack followed with back-to-back drives, getting a three-point play of her own on the second for a 28-23 lead.
The LFO lead grew to 16 on a Shadack putback before Watkins emptied his bench. Briana Sosebee topped Southeast with 16 points. The Lady Warriors and Lady Raiders, along with No. 3 seed Ringgold and fourth-seed LaFayette, will play in the region tournament in Cartersville this weekend.