Lane, Saylor power Polar Bears past Lakota

FREMONT — Margaretta coach Ray Neill didn't feel as though his team was playing with as much passion and enthusiasm as its opponent, Lakota, after the first quarter. Despite the fact that the Polar Bears led by four points, Neill challenged his team. The Bears answered the call, defeating Lakota 54-26 in a Division VI girls basketball district semifinal at Fremont Ross High School on Wednesday. Margaretta, the No. 1-ranked team in the state, had a 12-8 lead after one quarter before outscoring the Raiders 28-7 in the middle two quarters to pull away. The Bears led 29-13 at halftime and 40-15 after three quarters. The Margaretta senior duo of Cassidy Lane and Kenadie Saylor, who stand 6 feet and 5-10, respectively, each scored a game-high 16 points. Saylor scored 14 points in the middle two quarters while Lane put up 13 points in the second and third periods combined. Saylor hit some jumpers while Lane exhibited good, sound footwork and found ways to score near the basket and away from the hoop. "They were terrific. Those two seniors stepped up for us," Neill said. "Lakota was running a junk defense and face-guarded Ellyse Schaefer. We have other girls that we have confidence in (to score)." Saylor talked about her mindset coming into the game. "I watched some film, and I'm very quick on my feet, so (I decided) to drive and take it to the hoop," she said. "When I was open, I shot it." Neill also credited Lillian Belak for her effort in the second quarter. "We challenged them after the first quarter. Lilly Belak turned the aggressiveness from Lakota's favor to our favor," Neill said. "When our defense got better, our offense got better." Neill also credited Ashlyn Kingsborough, Renna Keller and Addyson Fitzthum for their efforts. The trio combined to score 18 points. The Bears are now 23-1 while Lakota ends its season at 7-15. Margaretta dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Raiders 17-5. The Bears scored the first six points of the quarter to push the lead to 18-8, and went on a 9-0 run to finish off the period with a 16-point lead at the half. In the game's next eight minutes, Margaretta outscored Lakota 11-2 in what was a defensive struggle. Lane and Saylor scored all of the Bears' points in the third quarter. Another telling stat was the disparity in free throws. Margaretta made 14 while the Raiders made three. "We hung in there for a while," Lakota coach Roger Geyman said. "We missed some baskets. Lane hurt us. They got her isolated, and we had a plan to help (on defense), but she got away from us. Their physicality was a factor, too." LAKOTA (7-15) Jerzee Crawford 1 0-0 2, Sophia Bomer 3 1-2 7, Roxy Zelman 1 0-0 2, Rylee Markel 2 2-4 6, Lexi Moon 3 0-0 9. TOTALS 10 3-6 26 MARGARETTA (23-1) Ashlynn Kingsborough 2 0-0 5, Lillian Belak 1 1-2 3, Renna Keller 2 3-4 8, Cassidy Lane 6 4-6 16, Addyson Fitzthum 1 3-4 5, Ellyse Schaefer 0 1-2 1, Kenadie Saylor 6 2-4 16. TOTALS 18 14-24 54 Lakota 8 5 2 11 — 26 Margaretta 12 17 11 14 — 54 Three-point goals: Lakota 3 (Moon 3); Margaretta 4 (Saylor 2, Keller, Kingsborough)