After hitting a slump in the second quarter, the lady Leopards would allow the Patriots to put 20 points on the board, a mistake that would cost them the game. Friday’s action would fall in the hands of Pender, 54-31.

“Once again, we just can’t get out of a real bad quarter; they beat us in the second quarter,” head coach Lofton Kerr recalled of the first half.

Kerr said the lady Leopards would secure a 6-4 lead at the end of one, however, after only budging another 6 points, the Patriots would sail ahead to a 24-12 halftime lead.

While the Lakewood’s ladies would face a sluggish second quarter, their performance in the second half was notable.

After outscoring Pender 23 to 22, the lady Leopards could have had a chance for a “W,” however, their second quarter lag ultimately cost them the game.

“The girls have a good effort, but we got to get out of the turnovers,” Kerr explained.

Even though a period of turnovers caused the Leopards to fall, Kerr said he was pleased with the girls’ effort Friday.

Leading for Lakewood was Nikki DeVincentis with 8 points; Devony Hemingway with 8 points; Teisha Rich with 5 points; Brittany Boykin with 4 points; Niesha Lewis with 3 points; and Bianca Moore with 4 points.

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