BY TOM DOUGHERTY

Correspondent

Hosting another edition of a classic district and neighborhood rivalry, the Lady Lions took on the neighboring rival No. 11 Lady Timberwolves in an important early District 16-5A battle.

Leander came out ready to play with an aggressive game plan, and finished the first quarter tied 9-9. As the Cedar Park defensive intensity amplified late in the second and early in the third quarters, the Lady Lions fell into a quick hole en route to a 53-36 loss Tuesday, Dec. 22.

“I think being patient on offense was working, we just needed to hold the ball,“ senior point guard Jessica Nails said.

Slowing the game down did prove effective for Leander throughout the first quarter, giving the Lady T’Wolves reason to worry.

Cedar Park turned on their full court press and broke the game open with a 25-4 run spanning the second and early third quarters. The Lady Lions regained some control and went on a late run in the fourth quarter, but were unable to close the gap as Cedar Park held on.

“We kind of got out of our game plan, but we did well when we executed what coach (Jonathan Lamb) wanted us to do,” senior Ellen Giddens said.

Senior guard Sierra Nevels led the team in scoring with 15 points, while senior point guard Aissa Barrera scored 11 and senior center Ashlee Hilbun added six rebounds and three blocks on defense.

“If we would have stayed calm, especially in the third quarter, it would have been a lot closer,” Nails said.

Overall, other than Barrera and Nevels shaking free, the Lady Lions had difficulty maintaining a flow on offense while getting out of sorts on the defensive end. Kelsey Perez scored four points while Sherryah Wallace was held to two points. Maddie Wheeler led a deep Cedar Park offensive attack with 22 points, including three 3-pointers. Madison Kramr added 14 points, Jenna Sayegh had eight points, and Madi Hess had five points against the familiar foe.

“When they started pressing we got a little out of focus and let some easy shots go in,” said junior Casey McCauley, who added two points.

At times, the Lady Lions proved effective in stymieing the powerful Cedar Park offense, but it was a few mistakes and lapses in concentration that broke the game wide open for the Lady Timberwolves.

“We were spreading the floor out, beating them off the dribble, but when they started pressing — which we wanted — we got the shots we wanted (but) just made too many mistakes in between,” Lamb said. “There were two stretches in the second quarter and third where we didn’t handle their pressure and made some silly mistakes. They’re too good offensively to make those mistakes.”

This loss brings the Lady Lions to 13-10 on the season, and 1-2 early in District 16-5A play. With one of the toughest districts around, Leander has the confidence to make a run into the postseason.

“We’re excited. We hope to go to the playoffs this year, and we think it’s possible,” Nails said. “Definitely possible.’

The Lady Lions will play at 3 p.m. Dec. 29 at Elgin, and the Lady Lions resume district play at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2 when they host No. 7 Georgetown.

“Our goal this year is to make the playoffs, we’re always working toward that goal,” Lamb said. “We’re 1-2 in district now, but we still have a long way to go.”

[Editor’s note: For the Cedar Park side of the story, please check cedarparkcitizen.com.]