Lanierland girls final: Lakeview wins 1st-ever title

OAKWOOD, Ga. — Not too long ago, there was talk of Lakeview Academy pulling out of the Lanierland tournament. Especially for the girls, who needed more than a decade in the event just to get their first opening round win.

All that was put to rest on Friday at the Johnson gym as the Lady Lions impressively dispatched North Hall, 55-30, to capture the program’s first-ever title. Lakeview (11-0) won all three games by double-digit margins.

First-year Lakeview coach Ken Huffman said he understands the rough history for the small private school. He thinks this week’s title run will show the Lions community that those no-compete days are in the past.

“The Lakeview community has always been behind the teams but I think this is now going to have them truly believe what we're capable of doing. We can definitely compete now,” Huffman said.

Some early nerves were prevalent for both teams as they combined for more turnovers (7) than points. North Hall had three turnovers and was 0-for-4 from the field while Lakeview used that to run out to a quick 6-0 lead in the first three minutes.

“I just told the ladies before the game, all we have to do is play the way we did the first 10 games,” Huffman said. “Our game plan is always the same -- defense first.”

Athena Vachtsevanos ended the scoreless streak for North Hall with a basket midway through the first and Braelyn McCall added a 3-pointer to pull within 8-5. Another McCall basket tied the game at 8 before Taliah Gaither, who was named the tournament MVP, drained a long 3-pointer for an 11-8 lead to end the opening period.

A Carly Bowen basket to open the second got North Hall within 11-10. But it was the Gaither and Emyrie Combs show the rest of the half. Gaither hit another 3-pointer, added two free throws and a traditional three-point play while Combs hit a pair of baskets as well as a free throw as part of a 15-1 run to close out the half for a 26-11 lead.

It was a rough opening 16 minutes for the Lady Trojans, who had 16 turnovers and were just 1-of-9 from 3-point range.

“Lakeview played excellent defense and we just could not get anything going on offense,” North Hall coach Eric Herrick said. “It wasn’t the way we wanted it to go but I really like where we are right now as a program. We only won three games all summer so for us to be 10-4 right now, we’ve far exceeded our expectations coming into the season.”

North Hall got within 29-16 early in the third quarter on a Athena Vachtsevanos 3-pointer, but midway through the third, Combs took over with Dynesty Putman and Taylor Clark in foul trouble. 

Combs scored 15 of the Lady Lions’ final 18 points and fittingly dribbled out the final 20 seconds of their historic win.

“Emyrie is my coach on the floor. She knows me like the back of her hand. When Taylor and Dynesty got in foul trouble early and I called a timeout, Emery looked at me and said, ‘Coach, don't worry. I got it,’” Huffman said.

Combs finished with a season-high 21 points and Gaither added 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks for Lakeview. Putman had 10 points for the Lady Lions.

McCall paced North Hall with 14 points. Athena Vachtsevanos had 9 points for the Lady Trojans.