Loogootee Jr-Sr High School

Last night, the Loogootee Lady Lions traveled to Glover Gymnasium in Bloomfield looking to improve their record to 9–4. The Lady Lions were without Coach Smith due to illness and were led by the remainder of the Lady Lions coaching staff. The game opened slowly for Loogootee, beginning with an Alaina Diamond drive to the basket that was quickly answered as Bloomfield took a 5–3 lead. Diamond responded with a three to reclaim the advantage, then followed with a transition 15-footer to cap an eight-point personal run and put the Lady Lions ahead 8–7. Lydia Hawkins grabbed an offensive rebound and finished to extend the lead to 10–7, and a Hawkins three followed by a free throw pushed Loogootee in front 14–9 after one quarter. Loogootee continued to build momentum in the second. Hawkins opened the quarter with a tough finish inside, and Sophia Toy knocked down a three to make it 19–12. Diamond scored twice going coast-to-coast, while Hawkins added another putback to stretch the lead to 25–12. Bloomfield responded late, but the Lady Lions carried a 29–18 advantage into halftime. The Lady Lions put the game away in the third quarter. Hawkins opened the half with another offensive rebound and score, Alexis Heckard buried a three off a kick-out from Ava Jeffers, and Hawkins converted an and-1. Karmen Wilson added a putback, and Hawkins closed the quarter with yet another second-chance basket to give Loogootee a commanding 46–26 lead after three. Loogootee maintained control in the fourth and pulled away for a 60–28 victory. The win marks the Lady Lions’ third straight and pushes their record to 9–4. Stat Leaders Lydia Hawkins led the Lady Lions with 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting, while also pulling down 15 rebounds, both career highs. Alaina Diamond matched her with 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting, adding 10 rebounds and 5 steals. Sophia Toy finished with 6 points, Ava Jeffers added 4 points and 3 rebounds, Alexis Heckard chipped in 3 points, Karmen Wilson scored and grabbed 4 rebounds, and M’Kenna Gregory added a free throw. It is believed this is the first time two Lady Lions have had double doubles in the same night. This was also the first time since January 4, 2020 @ Tecumseh that two Lady Lions scored 20 points in the same night, when Kalea Fleming (Eckerle) and Brooklynn Jones did so. The Lady Lions now turn their attention to the Graves Construction Greene County Invitational, hosted by WRV. Loogootee will face the host Wolverines in the opening round at 6:00 p.m. later this week.