Lyle/Pacelli Athletics girls’ basketball team downs Wabasha/Kellogg 75-54 in Section 1A tournament

The Lyle/Pacelli Athletics girls’ basketball team, the No. 14 seed in the Section 1A tournament played host to 19th seeded Wabasha/Kellogg out of the Three Rivers Conference in Lyle Wednesday evening, and freshman guard Kirsten Koopal led four Athletics in double figures with 22 points as LP fought off a early second half surge by the Falcons to win going away 75-54.

Wabasha/Kellogg jumped out to a 4-0 lead to start the game, but the Athletics countered with an 8-0 run to take an 8-4 lead and, as it wound up, a lead they would not relinquish.  LP used a 1-2-1-1 press and a 2-3 zone defensivley in the half, and offensivley Koopal scored 15 of her 22 points in the half to help the Athletics push their lead to as large as 23 in the first half and a 43-23 lead at the half.  The Falcons, though, picked up two quick 3-pointers from senior guard Jacqueline Avilez to trigger a 19-4 run to start the second half, and they trimmed the lead to five points at one point 47-42.  Lyle/Pacelli was able to weather the storm, however, as two 3-pointers from senior guard Alana Rogne and another 3-pointer from junior guard Kendahl Lewis helped the Athletics push the lead back above double digits, and there it for the rest of the game.

Besides Koopal’s 22 points, Rogne wound up swishing four 3-pointers in the game on her way to 16 points, Kearah Schafer and Avari Drennan each scored 10 points, Olivia Heart added eight points, six in the first half, Kendahl Lewis wound up with three points and Lexi Lewis, Metach Oman and Morgan Klankowski all scored two points apiece for the Athletics, who raised their record to 6-21 with the win.

Lyle/Pacelli returns to action tonight in the Section 1A tournament in Grand Meadow versus the No. 3 seeded Superlarks, with tip-off at 7:00 p.m.