LHS Girls Hoops Team Steals Lead in Final Minutes to Beat Belmont

The girls' basketball team used a strong defensive performance to overcome a fourth-quarter deficit and beat Belmont High School Wednesday night, 45-39. 

Belmont (8-9, 8-9) was playing without Olivia Lyons, the 5’9” sophomore forward/center and one of the team’s leading scorers, who rolled her ankle in pre-game warmups.

Despite the loss of its starting forward, Belmont was the warmer of the two cold teams in the first quarter, scoring inside with Kate Zolner and Lara Tcherkezian while Lexington had more traveling calls (six) then points (five) at the end of the quarter.

“Last time we played (Belmont), we scored three points and 12 turnovers in the first quarter,” said Lexington Coach Steve Solly, who has turned a three-win team from last year into a playoff-bound team with a  10-7, 8-7 league record this year.

Fog bound for a half 

“Once again, we were in a fog,” said Solly.

A Katie Leinbach three-pointer gave the Marauders the lead, 19-11, but senior guard Abby Hoffman answered right back for Lexington to cut the lead to 19-14 at the half.

Belmont quickly upped the lead to nine, 23-14, but another three by Hoffman and two inside by junior guard Cat Costello brought Lexington back to 23-19.

Lexington was also finding the range outside with Hoffman and  sophomore guard Kristyn Kajko that opened up the game for Costello to drive down the middle of the court.

But Zolner, her second straight strong game, and junior guard Isabelle Goldstein kept the Marauders in the lead at the end of third quarter, 32-28.

But the Marauders faced a Lexington full-court press that disrupted their offense while Lexington found theirs. A block by Lexington’s Allie Forlenza led to a Costello break that cut the lead to 32-30 with 7 minutes left.

Finally, a steal and a basket by senior forward Kelsey Fenn gave Lexington the lead, 33-34, which the Minutemen did not give up for the final 5:40.

Solly praised his team, saying, “they really worked to find a way to get that win.” Now into the playoffs, “we’ll see what we can do,” he said.

As for Hart, a missing Lyons was critical, “because while we can play for quarters and even a half without her, we do miss what she gives us over 32 minutes.”