Local digest
By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on January 26, 2010 1:46 PM
WARSAW -- Too many missed opportunities.
James Kenan came up empty offensively on its final five possessions and Lakewood escaped with a 34-31, Tri-County 1-A Conference victory in girls' basketball action Monday evening.
The Leopards (12-4 overall, 6-2 TCC) let a 10-point slip away in the final period. The Tigers forged a 31-31 tie on Denecia Miller's offensive putback after she missed her second free throw with 3:20 left in regulation.
The teams traded wasted offensive chances during the next two-plus minutes until Lakewood's Teisha Rich connected on the front end of a two-shot foul. Half a minute later, Nikki Devincitis banked in an 8-footer off the glass to put the Leopards up 34-31 with 21.9 seconds to go.
James Kenan (3-9) failed on its final two offensive possessions and suffered its fifth loss in conference play this season.
"We were looking to score and then just play defense," said Tigers head coach Wendy Lanier of the closing seconds. "At the very end, we had a play that we practice but some key people were out. I wanted them to look for the screen so we could have the three to maybe tie it.
"There were just too many missed opportunities."
LeAnnie Rivers paced Kenan's offense with a double-double -- 12 points, 11 rebounds. Miller finished with 10 points and six boards, while Parker handed out five assists.
Rich led the Leopards with 14 points.