Grand Finale

It was a first, but also a last.

Both meant a ton to Darcy Roberts.

Lomega began its playoff march on Saturday night by disposing of Cimarron 90-16 in a Class B district championship game on the Lady Raiders’ home court.

The outcome was as expected, but Roberts was intent on making sure it played out that way before the game ever started.

That’s partly because this was, as noted, Lomega’s first game of the playoffs.

However, it was the last time the likes of Roberts, Sydni Walker, Sierra Johnson and Madi Myers would ever play a game on their home court.

“Going into the game, I knew I wanted to go out on a high note,” Roberts said. “Not even necessarily by scoring the most points or having the best numbers on the stat sheet, but by having the most energy and doing all the little things right.”

Energy was high early as Lomega put away Cimarron well before the first quarter was over.

The Lady Raiders entered the second period with a 41-0 advantage.

As it turns out, Roberts had some pretty good numbers.

The senior knocked down six 3-pointers and scored 26 points in the first.

“It was incredible,” Roberts said of being able to create such a memorable night, one in which she scored 34 points overall.

“Truly, though, it was more than that to me. With it being the first game of playoffs, I knew it was part of my job as one of the senior team leaders to get the team headed in the right direction for the next few weeks.”

That direction this week is south and north.

Lomega will play Calumet on the road Thursday in the regional winner’s bracket game. The remainder of the regional will be played at Fairview.

Roberts said the playoffs are a time of supreme focus.

“You aren’t allowed an off night,” she said. “110% effort is required every step of the way.”

That began against Cimarron.

Walker scored five points in the second quarter as Lomega outscored the Lady Blazers 15-3.

She finished with 11 points.

Chloe Meier was also a big part of that early surge. She scored seven of her 11 points in the first quarter.

Lomega made 13 3-pointers in the game - seven by Roberts.

Two of them came from Hadley Ott as she scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half.

Lomega played the game without Abby Swart, who was still feeling the effects of a fall two weeks prior.

“We needed to keep her out,” coach Kevin Lewallen said. “Hopefully she will feel better this week.”

Second-ranked Lomega, which has played in the last three state title games, enters the regional with a 24-2 record.

The Lady Raiders closed out the regular season last Tuesday with a 68-24 victory at Pond Creek-Hunter.

As is their trademark, the Lady Raiders started fast and led 20-7 after quarter before pushing it to 37-14 by halftime.

Roberts scored 20 in the win while Meier poured in 11 and Jenny Penaran nine.