Highlanders' Playoff Run is Short Lived

Fri. February 10, 2012 at 2:00 a.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

LAKE WALES' ZADA WILLIAMS and Lake Nona's Jalisa Swift battle for a rebound in the first half on Thursday night. (Photo by ERNST PETERS | THE LEDGER )

By MIKE AKINS

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

Class 5a Regional Girls Basketball

LAKE WALES | Lake Wales could not sustain the momentum gained from the district championship as it fell to Lake Nona of Orlando 36-34 in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal Thursday night.

The Highlanders, who won their first district title in six years last week, finish their year at 18-11.

Tied at 34 with 30 seconds left, the Lions' Jalisa Swift scored the game-winner with a short jumper. The Highlanders' chance to tie it sailed over the top of the backboard.

"We could not find the right combinations tonight," Highlander coach Demetrius Sanders said.

In a contest that featured 52 turnovers and just as many ill advised shots, the Highlanders took a 29-27 lead at the end of the third quarter on a short jumper by Alisha Tucker, but the Lions scored the next seven points behind five points from senior Samantha Sealock.

"It was an extremely hard fought game," Lake Nona coach Richard Victor said. "On the last possession we slowed down the play and we were able to get a good shot."

Sealock led both teams in scoring with 14 points, while Summer Meaks led Lake Wales with eight.

Lake Wales' freshman Zada Williams, who averaged 13 points and 13 rebounds a game this season, was held to six points and six rebounds.

The Highlanders did not help their cause at the free throw line as they went 4-for-13 in the contest.

Lake Nona will play Titusville which defeated Tenoroc 62-17.

Lake Nona (36): Samantha Sealock 14, Jalisa Swift 10, Rebecca Bryant 9, Nicole Fisher 3 Totals: 16 3-9 36.

Lake Wales (34): Summer Meeks 8, Zada Williams 6, Alisha Tucker 6, Shayla Sewell 6, Shacoria Wertz 4, Camesha Thompson 4. Totals: 15 4-13 34.

Lake Nona 7 10 10 9 - 36

Lake wales 6 9 14 5 - 34

Halftime: Lake Nona 17-15. 3-pointers: Lake Nona 3 (Sealock 2, Fisher). Records: Lake Nona 17-9, Lake Wales 18-11.