After Wednesday night’s 43-38 home victory over Osbourn, the Lewis Lancers could take a little time to just enjoy where they are–undefeated after four games.
Third-year Coach Sam Partonen’s team is not a juggernaut by any stretch of the imagination. There’s still a ton of work to be done, and a much-tougher portion of the young Lancers’ schedule looms with three ranked opponents up next. But Partonen’s team has showed toughness, determination and chemistry so far this season, and they’re having some fun.
Plus, while wins and losses isn’t always what high school basketball is all about, it sure feels good to win. Especially when you’ve only won three games the past four seasons combined.
“It’s just a testament to the girls,” said Partonen. “They just work their tail off…anything that they lack when it comes to basketball skills from a young age–a lot of them start playing in high school–they make up for it in heart and just listening and doing what we ask.”
Much like previous wins over Hylton (42-38) and Independence (46-43) this season, the win Wednesday night was hard-earned. A see-saw game all night, Lewis held a one-point lead going into the fourth quarter. The Lancer defense stiffened, holding Osbourn without a point for the first 6:30 of the fourth. The Lancers did an especially good job on the Eagles’ senior guard Angel Boateng, holding her to five second half points.
“We had to switch our defense, I thought we were too passive in the first half,” said Partonen. “We had to pressure #1 [Boateng] because she’s obviously a great player…Morgan [Lefevre] is our state championship-bound track star…Jen Aquino is also our defensive stopper, soccer player, so we just traded them off on #1 to try to deny her.”
Still, Boateng hit two free throws with under a minute left, and after Osbourn sophomore Keila Rich followed her teammate’s miss with a bucket, the Lancers lead was down to 39-38.
Then, the Lancers showed their growth as a team. They were able to keep the ball away from Osbourn and chew clock, forcing the Eagles to foul. First, sophomore Donnie Goodwin calmly sank two free throws, her first attempts at the charity stripe all game. Then, when the Eagles failed to score and fouled again, junior Christina Mai did the same to clinch the victory.
Goodwin, an all-National District selection last season as a freshman, led the way offensively for Lewis with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. The versatile and tall wing is playing the vital role of point guard for the Lancers this season.
“Donnie does a lot for us, she has her hands on the ball 90% of the game,” said Partonen. “She’s working on getting open off the ball as well…moving her to the point guard, she’s just kind of got a presence that calms us down and gives us confidence. Down the stretch, [she was] clutch.”
Lefevre added 11 points in the victory, Mai 10 points and eight rebounds, and senior center Rimas Ahmed stepped up in the second half, with all her seven boards coming after halftime.
Partonen thinks the entire team’s hard work will continue to pay off in close games.
“I just think it’s finally showing off–we knew they had it in ’em, but it’s nice for them, especially here at Lewis, to be on a four-game winning streak,” she said.
Boateng finished with 17 points for Osbourn (0-5), while sophomore Lily Roth added 10 points.
–Chris Jollay
all statistics are unofficial
| LEWIS | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| GOODWIN | 6-17 | 2-2 | 15 | 7 | 5 | |
| AHMED | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| LEFEVRE | 5-19 | 0-2 | 11 | 4 | 4 | |
| MAI | 3-10 | 3-4 | 10 | 8 | 0 | |
| DELCID-VAQUEDANO | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Ahmed | 0-1 | 2-2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| Aquino | 1-2 | 1-1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
| Kaur | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | 16-55 | 8-13 | 43 | 39 | 10 | |
| Threes: Mai 1-3, Lefevre 1-4, Goodwin 1-5 | ||||||
| OSBOURN | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| BOATENG | 4-28 | 8-10 | 17 | 7 | 4 | |
| ROTH | 3-14 | 3-4 | 10 | 5 | 1 | |
| RICH | 1-4 | 1-2 | 3 | 9 | 0 | |
| VIDAL QUIROZ | 2-4 | 0-2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | |
| MIRA | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Delcid | 1-7 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Minas | 1-3 | 0-0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | 12-61 | 12-18 | 38 | 37 | 6 | |
| Threes: Roth 1-5, Boateng 1-7, Delcid 0-1 | ||||||