Lakewood girls basketball earns first win of season

Lady Cougars have cause for celebration on senior night

By Travis Sherer • February 23, 2010 2:33 pm
Lakewood junior Natalie Raymond leads a fast break by passing the ball to open teammate Jordan Wessell for a jump shot.
Lakewood junior Natalie Raymond leads a fast break by passing the ball to open teammate Jordan Wessell for a jump shot.

LAKEWOOD — It may have taken longer, but that made the Lady Cougars’ first win all the sweeter Feb. 19 against South Whidbey.

Lakewood entered the game 0-19 with one final chance to get a first victory, and they did with a 50-40 win in a Cascade Conference game.

With the score tied at 11-11 after the first quarter, Lakewood did something it had yet to do this season, hold an opponent to just single digits in a quarter, as the Cougars went on a 15-3 run that was sparked by junior Jordan Wessell’s three-point play.

Owning a 26-14 lead at halftime, Lakewood cruised with the poise of a playoff team by countering every South Whidbey attempt to get back into the game.

Lakewood featured a pair of seniors on this year’s squad that were honored by the rest of the team in Kathleen Austad and Chrystle Clark.

Clark had arguably her best game of the season when it counted, scoring a game-high 16 points playing tough defense not only on her mark, but helping her teammates as well.

Lakewood had three players score in double figures with Caitlyn Darrah scoring 14 and Wessell adding 12.

Earlier in the season, South Whidbey defeated Lakewood by the same margin 57-47.

In a season marred by injuries and coach Chris Walster trying to help his team find an identity, this win went a long way in doing so. The Cougars and fans celebrated after the victory on the court.