Adkins, Johnstown girls survive Lakewood, continue winning ways

On Jan 22, 2023

HEBRON ― For the second time this season, scrappy Lakewood nearly chopped down Johnstown’s “trees.”

Fortunately for the Johnnies, they had solid as an oak Angie Adkins this time around.

The junior guard scored 12 of her 22 points in the fourth quarter as the visitors put down repeated comeback bids by the Lancers for a hard fought 53-51 Licking County League-Cardinal Division victory, Johnstown’s fifth in its last six games as it stays in title contention.

Adkins’ return from injury has fueled the surge, and the Johnnies’ towering, 6-0 frontline of sophomores Kylie Sharp and Alexis Diehl, along with freshman Lauren Baughman, gave them a huge size advantage over Lakewood (5-11, 2-9). But the quicker Lancers continually drove through the trees and didn’t let the Johnnies (9-7, 7-4) secure the win until the closing seconds, in a battle between two young teams that each started just one senior.

“They outplayed us, and we couldn’t guard them all night,” Johnstown coach Scott Helmke said. “They attacked the rim, and we were lucky enough to run good offense in the second half.”

“We did not match up well, and we just had to do the best with what we were able to do,” said Lakewood coach Rob Compton. “Our guards got downhill and exploited them a little bit.”

The Johnnies used their size to build a 39-31 lead going to the fourth, and when Adkins, at 5-10 taller than any Lakewood player, scored inside with 4:49 left, they were still up 44-35. But Grace Sturgell hit a 3 and Charlee Palmer’s basket made it 44-40. And when Sturgell lobbed to Becca Streets for a layup, it was suddenly 45-42.

An Adkins layup, and her stepback 3 with 2:00 to play looked to have Johnstown in control at 50-43. However, the Lancers weren’t done, getting baskets from Sturgell and heady freshman Jaylie Maas to make it 50-47. And a tying 3 just rimmed out as the Johnnies missed three consecutive 1-and-1s. But they held on, Adkins sinking three of four free throws in the final 24.8 seconds before Maas had a driving layup to account for the final 2-point margin.

“We’ve been so close in a lot of these games,” Compton lamented. “We just can’t get the stop, or make that big shot, when we need it.”

Lakewood stunned the Johnnies with a 10-0 first-quarter run to go up 13-7, before lone senior starter Michaela Perfors drilled a 3 to steady the ship for Johnstown. Adkins had three straight assists inside, two to Baughman, and her 3 from the right wing pushed the visitors ahead 21-16 with 2:20 left in the half. Back came the Lancers again to take a 24-23 halftime lead, Sturgell finding Rachel Crist with a perfect bounce pass for a 3-point play, then hitting a 3-pointer.

“They play hard,” Adkins said. “We would go up, but they kept scrapping back. We just did not play really good defense.”

Perfors put Johnstown ahead for good with her 3 starting the second half, and she also hit a floater and twice found Diehl inside, including for a 3-point play. But the Lancers, who won the earlier meeting 39-36, weren’t going easily this time either.

“We changed a few things in the second half,” Helmke said. “Once we started being patient and finding the cutters, it opened up the low post, and the high post.”

“We always look to get it inside, and then that opens up the outside,” Perfors said. “It helps everyone a lot, having Abby back, and it’s contagious. We’re finding ways to finish, and it’s starting to click in our heads. We hope to make a push for a decent record and a good finish in the district.”

Adkins also had five assists for the Johnnies, a solid 20-of-44 from the field for 45 percent but just 8-of-16 at the line. Baughman added 10 points, Sharp had eight to go with nine rebounds and Perfors also scored eight.

The Lancers, who were 21-of-46 from the floor for 46 percent but only 5-of-10 at the line, also showed great balance. Sturgell canned a trio of 3s, scored 11 points and had three assists, while sophomore Charlee Palmer had 10 points and 11 rebounds and Maas also had 10 points. Despite being much smaller, Lakewood was only out-rebounded 26-23.

“Going in, we had not been playing real well,” Compton said. “I’m not into moral victories. I want to win as much as anyone. But win or lose, if we get that kind of effort, I’ll be satisfied. We just need to see it on a nightly basis.”

Johnstown hopes to continue its momentum, for a possible league title and deep tournament run.