It's a long-range coast for Lakes
The post can boast of about five, at most.
Lakes junior Mia Edwards, 5 feet 10 and strong, does most of her damage under the basket. When she missed a couple of layups during Friday night's rivalry game between the Eagles and visiting Antioch, however, she ventured outside the arc. And splashed an open 3-pointer.
She guesses she's made about five 3s all season.
"I try to work my way out most of the time, especially corners," Edwards said after going 1 of 2 from beyond the arc. "I'm putting it in as part of my game."
Edwards had a good game - notching a double-double - and so did Lakes.
Edwards posted game highs of 12 points and 10 rebounds, as Lakes pulled away en route to a 49-30 win in Northern Lake County Conference action. Kylie Jozwik added 11 points, including three 3-pointers, as Lakes improved to 6-10 and 2-3 in the NLCC.
Piper Foote had 9 points (two 3-pointers) and 5 steals to pace Antioch (4-11, 1-4), which had won four of its last six games.
With the two District 117 schools still on winter break, the game was well-attended by fans of both schools.
"Awesome turnout," Edwards said. "Brought out both bleachers. It was great."
The anticipated atmosphere was just what Lakes coach Brian Phelan and his staff discussed with the players.
"We talked yesterday and today about the good ol' days, and these are the good ol' days. So enjoy the rivalry. Enjoy the moment," Phelan said. "I thought our girls did that well."
Antioch scored the game's first 5 points, but Lakes responded with a 9-0 run, which included Edwards' layup and three-point play, and the Eagles led 15-10 after one quarter.
Antioch managed only a Foote 3-pointer in the second quarter and trailed 23-13 at halftime. Lakes built a 16-point lead in the third, but the Sequoits got 3-pointers from reserves Becca Ustich (6 points) and Kaitlynn Stay to get within 32-22 with 1:35 left in the quarter.
Edwards then hit her 3-pointer from the left corner, and the Eagles were in control for good. The lead grew to as many as 21 points in the fourth.
"When you don't have all five girls ready to play from the get-go, and if you don't make your shots, game over," coach Tim Borries said after his Sequoits shot 8 of 45 from the floor (18 percent) and 7 of 14 from the foul line. "We're making mistakes, at least tonight, that we made at the beginning of the year."
Brittany Washington added 8 points for Lakes, and 6-1 Paule Ceneac had 6 points and 7 rebounds. Sara Smith also scored 6 points in the win.
"I was concerned (coming into the game)," Phelan said. "Antioch hustles. It's a rivalry game. Throw out the records. They run a nice trapping defense, and I was hoping we'd respond well to that.
"We did a fundamental thing at practice," Phelan added. "We worked on retreat dribbles. We went back to a sixth-grade skill (smiling). I thought it helped bring out (Antioch's) double team, which gave us better spacing. We made some open shots and kept the game plan simple."