By Moses Leos III
Eight minutes of inspired basketball couldn’t give the Lehman Lady Lobos a storybook finish to a frenetic comeback Tuesday.
Lehman’s fourth quarter climb from a 15-point deficit fell short in a heartbreaking 34-32 loss to the Del Valle Cardinals at the Lobo Den.
Lady Lobo sophomore guard Crystal Montoya led the team with eight points, while senior Lauren Fowler and Kayla Martinez each scored seven points.
Inconsistent offense and defense plagued Lehman for the better part of three quarters.
Del Valle used it to its advantage, building a 14-12 lead at halftime. The Cardinals expanded their lead to 30-15 after three quarters. Del Valle’s Megan Abshier scored nine of her game high 18-points in the frame.
Fowler said the team felt “defeated” when trailing by 15 points. But instead of folding, she said they focused on playing as a group.
Lady Lobo head coach Jamie Coy said she preached the need to chip away.
“I told them don’t quit. The momentum changes in the pace of a game,” she said. “When it swings in your favor, you utilize it and run with it.”
Coy changed the pace of the game by employing a full-court press that trapped Del Valle’s offense.
Del Valle turnovers allowed Lehman to go on a 10-0 run. Lehman cut Del Valle’s lead to 30-25 before the Lady Cardinals responded. The Lady Cardinals led 34-29 with less than a minute left.
The lead shrunk to two points after Fowler banked a three-pointer off the glass.
But the Lady Lobos couldn’t capitalize off a missed Del Valle free throw with five seconds left. Fowler turned the ball over as time expired, ending Lehman’s final threat.
Despite the loss, Coy lauded the team’s late rally.
“I preach effort, and that’s something we’ve struggled with here and there,” she said. “I told them effort can do anything.”
