Wheeler FTs lift Lady Raiders over Okarche

It’s safe to say Lomega has bounced back from its season opener.

The Lady Raiders have passed two major tests since losing to Dover in their first game of the season, including a second straight win over a major rival.

Paige Wheeler made game-winning free throws with 13.5 seconds left Friday to help lift Lomega to a 55-53 home win against Okarche.

It’s Lomega’s second win over the county rival. Prior to last season, Lomega hadn’t won in the series since 2017.

The Lady Raiders led much of the way and went up 53-48 on Monse Rivera’s putback with 2:20 left in the game.

That’s when Okarche mounted a quick comeback.

Katy Creswell’s 3-pointer from the corner found the bottom of the net on Okarche’s next possession, pulling the Lady Warriors within two.

Okarche then forced a turnover and Scout Payne’s layup with 1:00 to play tied the game.

Yet another Lomega turnover gave Okarche the ball back.

That’s when the missed opportunities piled up.

The Lady Warriors missed two shots underneath with just over 30 seconds remaining, but grabbed offensive rebounds on both shots.

Still with possession, coach Haley Mitchel called a timeout with 18 seconds to play.

Fortune turned to Lomega on the ensuing inbounds play as Abby Swart stole the pass, then fed Wheeler on a fast break.

Wheeler was fouled on her layup attempt, setting up the winning foul shots.

Okarche still had a shot to tie the game as Avery Schieber was fouled with just under three seconds left on the clock.

Schieber missed her first free throw, leading her to intentionally miss the second in hopes of an Okarche offensive rebound.

But it was Lomega who grabbed the rebound and the win.

Lomega was up a point after the first quarter, then extended it to 33-27 at halftime.

Aliana Lawson scored six during that frame and Swart four.

Swart added seven points in the third to help hold off an Okarche charge.

She led her team with 18 points while Lawson scored 10.

Rivera, Wheeler and Hadley Ott scored six apiece.

Okarche was led by Payne’s 19 points.

She scored 13 of those in the second and third quarters.

Creswell made half of Okarche’s eight 3-pointers and scored 17 points.

Lomega moved to 2-1 with the win, its second straight after losing to Dover. It has another quality win at Drummond.

Okarche dropped to 0-2 with its other loss coming to Class 2A’s Preston.

The Lady Warriors were playing without senior Jadyn Rother, who missed the game with an injury.