Lady Jackets Declare Victory Against Lake Erie

By Lauren Vargas

After meeting their match in the Lady Jackets only a week prior, Lake Erie seemed determined to have a taste of redemption. With a 0-13 season under their belts, a win was essential to improve their rankings. Unfortunately for them, the Jackets stole the show with yet another victory, improving their record to 11-12 on the eve of Valentine’s Day by a score of 81-61.

Although a definitive win for the Jackets, they struggled at times to gain control of the game, starting with their ball possession. There were moments when players on both sides scrambled on the floor, attempting to out-hustle one another to win the ball. Fouls were called left and right. The game’s intensity was evident, and the players were feeling it.

There were a number of turnovers for both teams, 33 for Lake Erie and 24 for Cedarville, and the game’s speed became erratic more than once. Luckily, the Jackets were the first to regroup and control the pace just enough to put a few more points on the board. They finished the first quarter with a last-minute buzzer-beater, hanging on to the lead by a meager 7 points.

In the following quarters, each team turned up the heat, putting their literal blood, sweat, and tears into the game. Shockingly, the court needed to be cleared near the start of the game, as officials paused the clock to clean blood from a player’s previous injury off the floor. Once all the players were checked and good to go, the game was off again.

The Jackets had come out of the gate very strong. It wasn’t long before the pace they set was simply too much for Lake Erie, and every offensive stent following tip-off brought a number of layups and three-pointers for the Jackets. It was no surprise that Coach Addie Miller took notice of their efforts.

“What I was proud of them for is that they never quit,” Miller said. “Everyone stepped up. That’s what being a team is. Some nights, it’s not going to go your way, but your teammates are going to pick you up, and that’s what they did tonight.”

The stellar teamwork of the Lady Jackets was apparent. They were especially light on their feet, anxious to make some baskets and land the victory as a result. Top team scorer Ella Sellars, who contributed 31 points and four steals, was especially keyed in.

“It was really fun, whether I was scoring or passing to my teammate, it was just good to see success all around,” Sellars said.

In the end, the Jackets just couldn’t be beat, and Cedarville’s fans walked away satisfied with victory. The team now prepares to face off against Thomas More on Saturday, Feb. 15. Fans will hold their breath, anxiously waiting to see if the Jackets perform against Thomas More as well as they did tonight. 

Lauren Vargas is a freshman biology student with a minor in Spanish, and a sports writer for Cedars. She’s an avid weightlifter and loves watching movies in her free time.

Photo by Preston Cavin