Lady Lions celebrate Senior Night/Pink Game

By Steve Smail

Thursday, February 16, 2012

STRATTANVILLE - Celebrating Senior Night and its third annual "Pink Game," the Clarion-Limestone Lady Lions basketball team came away with more of a blue feeling after a 42-39 loss to East Forest last Friday night.
C-L shot just 22 percent (11-of-49) from the floor, which will make it hard to beat any opponent let alone one that is heading to the playoffs.
'We had 20 points after three quarters and you won't win many games doing that," said C-L head coach Doug Rodgers. "They were in a zone and we weren't attacking it like I know we're capable of. We shot just 22 percent and the tough thing was for the most part they were good looks."
Erica Long, a recent 1,000-point scorer, and Lauren Oliver combined for 34 of the Lady Bears total with 23 and 11 each.
C-L led 7-6 after one quarter as both teams struggled offensively. The Lady Lions continued to lead 11-10 three minutes into the second before a 10-2 run by East Forest gave the Lady Bears a 20-13 halftime lead.
C-L made just 5 of 25 shots in the opening half.
"I thought we'd have more intensity tonight with the Pink Game and it being Senior night," said Rodgers. "Although that's pretty much how our second half of the season has been."
A Kiana Laugand 3-pointer and Jess Wolbert put back cut the lead to 28-25 early in the fourth before a pair of baskets by Long pushed the lead back to seven at 32-25.
East Forest would make all six of their free throws over the final 1:18 to maintain their lead. Port made two of three free throws and Wolbert made another put back at the buzzer to set the final score.
Long scored 12 of the 14 points East Forest scored in the fourth quarter.
Laugand led C-L with 14 points while Port and Wolbert each scored six.
The Lady Lions recognized their four seniors in Dannie Parsons, Jess Wolbert, Kacy Lewis, and Sam Speer before the game.
"They are a great group of girls," said Rodgers. "Kacy had a couple of 20-point games for us. Jess and Dannie both work hard and give it all they have every night. They are probably the hardest workers on the team. We can't forget about Sam Speer who came out for the first time and helped us early on when we weren't sure if we were going to have enough players for a junior varsity team."
In the junior varsity game, the Lady Lions defeated East Forest 32-18 as Alissa Burns scored 13 points and Abby Mellott added 11.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8
C-L 59, West Forest 29
At Tionesta, the Lady Lions jumped out to a 16-5 lead after one quarter en route to a 30-point win.
Kacy Lewis led C-L with 19 points, including a 5-for-5 effort from the free throw line. Kiana Laugand added 16 points and also shot a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line where the Lady Lions were a stunning 16-of-17 overall. Lily Port chipped in with nine points.