BASKETBALL
Dickerson’s free throws give Lakeside edge
Lakeside forward Miller Dickerson didn’t score until the final 10 seconds against visiting Lake Hamilton Friday night, but the junior made the most of her opportunity.
Entering the game after junior Belle Neilson was charged with her fifth foul, Dickerson went to the free throw line with six seconds on the clock and the Lady Rams trailing 40-39.
Dickerson buried both attempts to give Lakeside just its third lead of the game. Lake Hamilton’s potential game-winner on the ensuing possession missed its mark, and the Lady Rams escaped with a 41-40 win at Lakeside Athletic Complex.
“She’s just a really hardworking kid,” Lakeside coach Chris Brock said of Dickerson. “It’s really easy to root for those kinds of kids because she shows up every day and works hard. She’s had to work hard on her shot, and she’s put the time in to develop it. She’s that type of kid, and she deserves to make those shots.”
After a 3-pointer by sophomore Chloe Porter pulled Lakeside within 22-25, the Lady Wolves closed the third quarter on a 7-2 run, Jenny Peake capping it with a shot from behind the arc to give Lake Hamilton a 32-24 advantage.
Struggling offensively for much of the game, the Lady Rams found their groove in the fourth quarter. Porter scored five points, while senior guard Thea Rice added four to spark an 11-0 Lakeside run to open the final period.
“As we got into the game and started doing what we do, I really thought we started playing better,” said Brock. “I still think we were too impatient on offense, but they did a great job defending us. It was a great game.”
Trailing 35-32 after Lakeside’s blistering start, the Lady Wolves answered with consecutive 3-pointers from Hannah Walker and Taylor Wells, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
A layup by Peake gave Lake Hamilton a 40-37 lead with less than two minutes to play, but the Lady Wolves were unable to sustain the momentum. Rice buried two shots from the line to trim the gap, and Dickerson secured an offensive rebound before going to the line for the go-ahead free throws.
“We gave up way too many offensive rebounds,” Lake Hamilton coach Blake Condley said. “If we eliminate some of those things, when it’s a one-point game, you win. Even back to the first half, we had some missed assignments where a shooter would get free for an open look. In what ended up being a close game, we’ve got to be able to make plays.”
The Lady Wolves built a comfortable lead in the first quarter, thanks in large part to the outside shooting of Wells. The senior guard connected on three straight shots from behind the arc and Lake Hamilton took a 15-5 advantage into the second quarter.
“It’s reflective of the work she puts in,” said Condley. “She’s the last one out of the gym most days. If she’s not shooting at our gym, she’s on her way to the church to get some shots up there. It’s been a culmination of years, and it’s finally starting to pay off for her.”
The Lady Wolves stretched their lead to 19-10 early in the second quarter before Lakeside started to show signs of life offensively. Porter scored four points and junior guard Lindsey Davis buried a 3-pointer as the Lady Rams pulled within 21-15 at the break, foreshadowing a back and forth second half.
Porter led all scorers with 13 points, while Rice finished with nine points and Patrick had eight points. Wells paced the Lady Wolves with 12 points on four 3-pointers. Walker added nine points for Lake Hamilton, and Grace Tedder scored eight points.
The Lady Wolves (5-6) will face Mena in the first round of the Kameron Hale Invitational on Dec. 28 at Wolf Arena. Lakeside (8-2) will face Brinkley in the first round of the Chartwells Spa City Shootout on Dec. 27 at Bank of the Ozarks Arena.
“Tonight was big; it just keeps our momentum going,” Brock said. “Some games we’ve played better than others, but my girls have given great effort in every game. If we keep doing that and keep getting better at the little things, who knows how good we can be.”