Carly Lehman of Fairbanks hits a basket despite defensive pressure from Triad’s Abby Walls on Saturday. Lehman led FHS with 20 points during its 52-27 triumph. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Fairbanks girls basketball coach Landon Fraker knew what his team needed to do Saturday evening.
It was imperative the Lady Panthers prevent Triad’s senior twin sisters, Frani and Cati LeVan, from doing as much damage as possible.
Fraker threw a press against the Lady Cardinals with the thought of slowing down Triad’s offensive plan.
The strategy worked as FHS (11-9) breezed to a 52-27 victory over the Lady Cardinals (6-14).
“We wanted to take the LeVan sisters away from their offense as much as possible,” said Fraker.
The twins went into the game averaging nearly 29 points per game between them.
Both reached the 1,000-point milestone earlier this season.
The siblings managed only 21 points together on the night. They were two of only four Triad players to get into the scorebook.
“We didn’t show up to play tonight,” admitted Cardinal bench boss Erica Trainer. “We forced too many things (shots and passes) in our offense.
“We also need to do a better job of boxing out as Fairbanks beat us on the boards.”
A basket by Frani LeVan tied the game at 2-2 within the first minute.
The Lady Cardinals’ offense, however, was greatly slowed by FHS’ press.
When Triad was able to break the defense and get into its halfcourt offense, too many shots were put up in a hurry, without good looks at the nylon.
Triad also had difficulty on the foul end of the ledger.
Free throws by Emma Kugel and Gracie Pyers stretched FHS’ margin to 9-2 with 2:59 left in the opening period.
The Lady Cardinals didn’t get back on the scoreboard until Cati LeVan’s drive in the lane with 2:43 on the timer.
Pyers sank a pair of free throws and Macy Miller threw down a jumper.
Miller’s bucket sent Fairbanks into the second period with a 13-4 lead.
Triad put the Lady Panthers into the bonus with 14 seconds left in the first stanza.
The fouls continued to climb during the ensuing eight minutes of action.
FHS got out of the gate quickly during the second quarter.
Elaina Lahmers scored in transition, while foul shots from Megan Rausch and Carly Lehman elevated Fairbanks’ lead to 18-4.
A charity toss from Lehman and a stickback by Lillian Miller gave the Lady Panthers (who will play at Madison Plains tonight) a 21-6 spread.
Cati Levan later tallied back-to-back layups.
Frani LeVan drilled a three-pointer that narrowed the Cards’ deficit to 23-15 late in the quarter.
Lehman drained a three-ball and Macy Miller sliced the cords with a basket as Fairbanks took a 28-15 halftime margin.
FHS went on an 8-0 run to begin the second half.
Lehman converted a steal into a bucket and then scored when she followed her own miss.
Macy Miller hit a shot and Lehman scored again after another offensive rebound.
Those baskets expanded the Lady Panthers’ lead to 36-15 during the first 2 ½ minutes of the third quarter.
Frani LeVan broke Triad’s dry spell with a three-pointer.
Lehman and Lahmers scored buckets for FHS.
Ellie Carter later sank a charity toss that pushed Fairbanks out to a 41-18 lead.
Frani LeVan’s layup after a steal sliced Triad’s (which will play at Northeastern on Wednesday) gap to 41-20 by the end of the third quarter.
Lehman, who led all scorers with 20 points, tickled the twine on a three-ball within the first two minutes of the fourth period.
That pushed FHS out to a 46-20 advantage,
Lehman was later assisted on a basket.
Anna Poling dished a nifty back-door pass that Lehman converted into a 50-24 advantage.
Both teams subbed down the stretch as the Lady Panthers rolled to the easy victory.
Fairbanks
Lehman 8-3-20, M. Miller 6-0-12, Lahmers 3-3-9, Pyers 0-3-3, Rausch 1-1-3, Kugel 0-2-2, L. Miller 1-0-2, Carter 0-1-1, Poling 0-0-0, Thrush 0-0-0. Totals 19-13-52.
Three-point goal: Lehman 1.
Triad
F. LeVan 4-2-12, C. LeVan 4-0-9, Ferguson 2-0-4, Nott 1-0-2, Walls 0-0-0, Fauber 0-0-0, Snider 0-0-0, Eaton 0-0-0, Cox 0-0-0. Totals 11-2-27.
Three-point goals: F. LeVan 2, C. LeVan 1.