By Moses Leos III.
A strong showing at the Champions Classic Tournament in San Marcos helped the Lehman High Lady Lobo basketball team ready for the stretch run in district play. Lehman hosts Seguin at noon on New Year’s Eve.
The Lady Lobos went 2-3 overall in the tournament, which was held Dec. 27-28. The team performed its best during pool play, which saw the team finish 2-1 and second in their pool.
Lehman began the weekend with a close 49-47 win over New Braunfels Canyon.
Head coach Jamie Coy said the win was good, but the team struggled at times with taking advantage of possessions. She said the players worked on amending turnover and rebound issues during the tournament.
Lady Lobo point guard Olivia Marzullo drives against an Incarnate Word defender during the Lady Rebel Cup in December. The Lady Lobos travelled to the Champions Classic in San Marcos over the weekend, finishing with a 2-3 mark, and second in pool play. (Photo by Moses Leos III) |
“We have to learn that every possession counts, and that we have to take care of [the ball],” Coy said.
The team then ran into a strong Laredo Cigarroa squad, which defeated Lehman 65-51.
Cigarroa’s size in the paint proved to be the tipping point. Coy was impressed with the size and speed of several of their interior post players, which created mismatches for the squad.
Their ability to adequately run the floor and perform well on fast breaks led to the Lady Lobos’ demise.
Lehman rebounded in their final pool play game, where they advanced to the championship Saturday as the second seed from their pool.
The first game on Saturday saw them play in-county rival San Marcos to a close 59-55 loss.
Coy lauded the team’s 40 percent shooting percentage from the floor – the highest of the season. She also welcomed the team’s ability to communicate well on the floor, leading to a stronger offensive and defensive presence.
However, the team couldn’t take advantage of possessions in the waning moments. The last two minutes saw the team struggle to rebound, along with not able to hit big shots late.
Despite those issues, Coy was pleased with the effort from her team
“[The kids] worked hard, hustled and shot well,” Coy said. “But the last two minutes, we struggled to get offensive boards, which hurt us.”
Lehman finished the tournament as the victim of a hot-shooting Kerrville Tivy team. Tivy shot 60 percent from the field in a 62-38 win.
Overall, the tournament was positive for Coy, who observed a high intensity and aggressiveness from her team – specifically on transitions and finding the open shooting. She sensed the experience will help the team as the heart of district play nears.
“It was a good tournament for girls,” Coy said. “[There were] plays from girls who have been quiet (this) season. They opened up and made some moves they were not consistent with.”
