Lady Leps Rock to 9-2 Start

Originally Published In: THE SPOTLIGHT Volume 83, Issue 4 (January 2007)

By Jared Heller

The Lady Leopards basketball team finished the first half of the season with a 9-2 record.  They were 6-1 in the NBC with their only two losses coming against West Branch and Lake.

The Lady Leps lost their first game against Lake 51-47, but Amanda Jaeb scored 22 points and Diana Biller & Julie Conley each grabbed 5 rebounds.  The Leps bounced back with five straight victories against Carrollton, Northwest, Canton South, Alliance, and Central Catholic.  Jaeb scored 22 points and Conley had 8 rebounds against Northwest.  The Leps hit 29 free throws against Canton South.  Brittany Bartee scored 15 points verse the Wildcats, while Jaeb added 13 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals in the 54-49 victory.  Kelsie Harmon’s 15 points led the Lady Leps over Central 58-46.  Finally, Jaeb scored 18 points and Biller pulled down 8 rebounds in a 56-37 win over Alliance.

Next, the Lady Leopards fell to the West Branch Warriors 43-38 in a defensive struggle.  However, the Leopards rebounded to win their next four games.  Jaeb, Conley, and Jaclyn Haddad all scored double figures in a dominating 64-30 win over Carrollton.  Jaeb led the Leps, scoring 19 points, to a 53-41 win over Massillon.  The Leps then squeaked by rival Minerva 43-42.  Finally, Jaeb scored a season high 26 points and nailed 4 three-pointers as Louisville took it to Marlington 67-42.  Biller also grabbed 9 rebounds against the Dukes.  The Lady Leps should carry this momentum into the rest of the season in hopes of taking the NBC crown.