Lakewood jumped out to a 15-0 lead before anyone could even blink in Great 8 action at the Denver Coliseum, riding that explosive start to a 61-37 blowout victory over Jeffco League rival Ralston Valley.
The two teams split their regular season meetings, but Friday’s outcome was never in doubt as Lakewood dominated the Mustangs with varied presses, balanced offense and by taking away Ralston Valley’s biggest stars.
The Tigers compounded their first quarter execution with a 12-8 second quarter, but coach Chris Poisson remained stern-faced as ever heading into the locker room with an 18-point lead.
Any thoughts of a Ralston Valley comeback in the second half were quickly put to rest, as Lakewood sophomore Nadia Trevizo, senior Hannah Renstrom and senior Jessica Woodhead controlled the perimeter while senior forwards Sassy Coleman and Camilla Emsbo had their way in the paint.
The two-guard full-court press put on by Trevizo and Renstrom was particularly effective in the second half as the Tigers continued to pad their lead en route to holding the classification’s leading scorer, Mustangs senior forward and Minnesota commit Delaynie Byrne, to zero points.
Trevizo led the No. 2 Tigers with 16 points, while Emsbo also had 13 points and Renstrom tacked on 11 more. Freshman point guard Sydney Bevington paced the No. 7 Mustangs with 15 points.
Lakewood (23-3, Jeffco League champions) takes on Regis Jesuit in the Final Four next Thursday at the Coliseum, while the Mustangs finish 21-5.
