A pair of wins over the weekend improved the Pen High Lakers senior girls basketball team record to 7-3 on the season in Okanagan AAA league play.
The Lakers defeated the Rutland Voodoo 73-44 and NorKam Saints, 69-42 last Saturday.
Lakers coach Lesley Lacroix said the team received balanced scoring from Tessa Lannon-Paakspuu with 16 points, and Emily Clarke and Natasha Reimer, adding 12 each. Reimer also grabbed 18 rebounds. Jessie Garcha shot 67 per cent from three-point land and was solid defensively. Against NorKam, Hayden Craig was a star at both ends of the floor, limiting the Saints’ big post to seven points, while ringing up a team-high 18 points and 10 boards.
“The team transitioned the ball very well up the floor, hitting Haylee Robertson in the paint for eight points,” said Lacroix.
Ana Moroziuk had a hand in setting up seven baskets with her passing and chipped in 14 points. Lannon-Paakspuu added 12 points and Emily Clarke had 11.
Sitting in third place, the Lakers conclude league play against the South Kamloops Titans Friday at Pen High at 1 p.m., then host the Salmon Arm Jewels Saturday at noon.
“This weekend, our match up versus South Kamloops will be a tough one,” said Lacroix.
“They shoot the threes so well that our perimeter defence will have to get tougher if we are going to challenge their shot.”
Their game against the Jewels is also key as a victory guarantees the Lakers third place going into the Valley Championship.
Lacroix said the Jewels are a good shooting team that runs a solid motion offence. Playing strong defensively will be key for the Lakers again.
“We shot well against them the last time we matched up and are bigger in the paint, so we need to bring that back on Saturday,” she said.