8 Wasn’t Enough
Swart MVP again as Lomega wins 9th consecutive conference crown
LOMEGA’S Paige Wheeler (4) goes high for a rebound during her team’s semifinal win Friday at the Cherokee Strip Conference Tournament. [Photo by Chris Simon/www. simon-sports-photos.smugmug.com]
LOMEGA SENIOR ABBY SWART, pictured shooting a free throw during Friday’s semifinal win, was named the MVP of the Cherokee Strip Conference Tournament for a second straight year. [Photo by Chris Simon/ www.simon-sports-photos. smugmug.com]
Kevin Lewallen said it was the best his team has played all season.
That’s saying something…and it was bad news for Kremlin-Hillsdale.
Lomega stayed streaking Saturday night as it whalloped Class B No. 16 Kremlin-Hillsdale 79-38 in the girls championship game of the Cherokee Strip Conference Tournament at Pioneer- Pleasant Vale High School.
The Lady Raiders led from the start and consistently pulled away to win their ninth straight conference tournament championship and 19th consecutive game this season.
“That was the best we’ve played all year,” Lewallen said of his second- ranked Lady Raiders. “We were really good across the board.”
It’s hard to argue. Four different Lady Raiders scored in double digits.
They had the Lady Broncs doubled up after a quarter and were up 28 at halftime.
And that was with the eventual tournament MVP being quiet to that point.
Abby Swart had just three points at halftime.
The senior made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in the third quarter as Lomega extended its advantage by eight more points.
Swart finished with five treys and 17 points and earned the tournament’s top individual honor for a second straight year.
She was joined on the all-tournament team by Aliana Lawson and Kate Myers.
Lawson scored all 18 of her points in the first half.
She scored eight and Myers six in the first quarter as Lomega built its 22-11 lead. Lawson then buried two treys as part of her 10 second-quarter points.
Myers made at least one field goal in every quarter and finished with 16 points.
Lomega also got 13 points from Hadley Ott.
Swart also scored 17 in Friday’s 67-33 victory over Medford in the semifinals.
She made four of Lomega’s 10 3-pointers.
Bree Yost added 11 points while Jenny Penaran scored 10.
The Lady Raiders ended the tournament with a 19-1 overall record.