Slow start dooms Lobo girls hoops

Lehman’s Anissa Robles and her Lady Lobo teammates dropped a game at home against Austin High Tuesday night. Lehman next plays at Bastrop on Friday. (Photo by Stephen Cooper)

by MARK CAUL

The Lehman girls basketball team fell behind big early and never could recover in a home loss to Austin High Tuesday night.

Although Jamie Coy’s Lady Lobo squad fought back valiantly in the second half, the 15-point first quarter deficit proved to be too steep a mountain for Lehman to climb as the Austin High Lady Maroons held on to beat Lehman 59-49.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been at our best when we’ve had to come from behind,” Coy said. “Our mode of operation lately has been to see how deep a hole we can dig ourselves into and then try to see if we can come back before the end of the game.”

The Lady Maroons led 33-20 at the break.

Austin High’s Selena Hernandez led all scorers with 16 points and initiated a pivotal five-point swing that halted an 8-0 Lehman spurt midway through the third quarter.

Lehman closed the gap as Smith scored six points to pull the Lady Lobos within 37-28.

After draining a 3-pointer from the left corner, Hernandez then swooped in from behind Katherine Gonzalez and swiped the ball as the Lady Lobos inbounded from underneath the basket.

Hernandez scored on a short bank shot to give the Lady Maroons a commanding 40-22 lead that virtually put the game out of reach affording Austin High head coach Tricia Johnson the luxury of resting her starters for much of the fourth quarter.

Amara Smith paced the Lady Lobos with 14 points and Bria Cheatham added 11 for Lehman in the loss.

“If we would start being aggressive, rebounding, going to the hole and getting out in transition earlier in the game – we will be successful.” said Coy. “The effort is definitely there. We just have to get it all meshed together.”

Lehman will face Bastrop before opening District 27-4A play at Clemens next Monday night.