Lakeland Christian girls basketball has traded its wins and losses quite frequently so far this season, sitting at 6-4 heading into Thursday night’s home game against Granger Christian. The Lady Cougars left no doubt about who the superior team in this one was, cruising to a 43-15 win, its second in a row.
The two teams participating in this one showcased two completely different styles of play. Granger Christian was adamant on taking its time on each possession, moving the ball around the perimeter while players cut back and forth to try to get open. The Lady Knights were content to burn 30-40 seconds per possession if it meant finding the shot they wanted. On the other side of things, Lakeland Christian made it clear from the opening tip that the team was going to run up and down the floor at full speed. The Lady Cougars were able to take full advantage of the transition game, coming away with a plethora of steals and beginning the fast break on command.
Lakeland Christian led 7-4 after a quarter with two layups from junior Katie Reimink and a three by senior Abby Wirebaugh. The second quarter was much more exciting for the LCA faithful, and served as the period in which the Lady Cougars took full control of the game. With Granger Christian doing most of its passing around the perimeter, LCA was able to catch on and jump in front of passing lanes for easy steals. Reimink continued to be the catalyst here, becoming the first player to reach double figures here in the second.

    Lakeland Christian's Dayton Sibert makes a move down the lane to the basket during the second quarter of Thursday night's home game against Granger Christian. Photo by Gary Nieter

She would get some help as both Anna Robertson and Dayton Sibert would get onto the score sheet in the second as well. Robertson was a key factor rebounding the ball for LCA all night long, making sure the Lady Knights were held to just one shot per possession.
Lakeland Christian took a 23-7 lead into halftime on a long three pointer at the buzzer by Reimink. The junior scored 16 points in the first half to go with four steals.
Olivia Stenoish and Maddie Wobrock each scored their first baskets in the opening minutes of the third quarter as the Lady Cougars extended their lead up to 20. The strong defense of LCA continued to be a factor as well, as the home side was able to turn over the Lady Knights at will. Now holding onto a much larger lead, LCA began to take more time on the offensive end, setting up some post work for Sibert while also creating looks for shooters around the perimeter. In the final seconds of the third quarter, Sibert would drain a jumper from the elbow to extend the Lady Cougars’ lead to 31 with eight minutes to go.
It seemed as if it wouldn’t take long for LCA to extend its lead to 35 and initiate the running clock rule. That would not be the case however, as the Lady Cougars suddenly had a hard time getting the lid off of the basket to start the fourth quarter. The home team went scoreless for the first five minutes of the period before Ellie Martinez finally converted on a midrange jumper.
Luckily for the Lady Cougars, the defense was still operating at full force, and prevented the Lady Knights from creeping back into the game.
Reimink finished the game with 18 points and seven steals. Sibert scored seven points and added six rebounds. Wirebaugh scored six points while Stenoish scored four.
LCA is back in action Saturday at home against Bethany Christian for a Hoosier Plains Conference showdown.