Lady Bulldogs Edge Lake County in First Round

GLEASON (February 17) — The Gleason High School Lady Bulldogs hosted Lake County Monday for the first round of the District 14A Girls Basketball Tournament. The tight contest went down to the wire as the Lady Bulldogs claimed a 39-27 win to advance to the semifinals.

Gleason had a 13-11 edge after the first frame, led by Hylan Leach with nine points on a trio of three-pointers. Kadence Witherspoon and Ahmyre Allen each had a pair. Caren Johnson led the Lady Falcons with six points, including a three. Mariah Valentine scored five, also with a three.

The second quarter was a 10-10 wash. Lady Bulldog Skylar Arnold and Allen each scored four, and Addy Black had a pair. Johnson again led Lake County with five points, including a three. Valentine scored three, and Kaitlin Jones had a pair. At the half, Gleason led 23-21.

Lake County took the lead with a 14-11 advantage in the third, led by Laken Chism with seven points, including a three-pointer. Valentine also hit a three, and Jones and Johnson each added a pair. Arnold led Gleason with seven points. Allen and Brinley Lehmkuhl each had a pair. Entering the final frame, the Lady Falcons led 35-34.

The Lady Bulldogs claimed the win with a 5-2 tilt in the fourth, led by Arnold with four points. Leach hit a free throw. Jones had the lone pair for Lake County.

Gleason’s Skylar Arnold led all scorers with 15 points. Hylan Leach scored ten with a trio of three-pointers.

Caren Johnson led Lake County with 13 points with a pair of threes. Mariah Valentine scored eleven, also with a pair of threes.