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Wells surges past Blue Bombers

Lake Placid’s Graci Daby, left, and Camile Craig attempt to wrestle the ball away from Sierra Mauro of Wells during Tuesday’s playoff game on the Blue Bombers court. Mauro scored 15 points to lead the Indians to a 39-32 victory that ended Lake Placid’s season. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

SARANAC LAKE — The basketball season came to an end for Lake Placid’s girls Tuesday in a 39-32 loss to Wells in the opening round of the Section VII, Class D playoffs.

The matchup featured the eighth-seeded Blue Bombers hosting ninth-seed Wells, and for nearly three quarters, things were looking up for Lake Placid. However, the tide starting turning in favor of the Indians, who drained the final four points of the third period to cut their deficit to 24-23. Wells then pulled away by outscoring the Blue Bombers 16-8 in the fourth period to advance into the next round of the playoffs, where they will take on top-seeded Moriah on Friday.

Sierra Mauro and Erika Foster proved to be the determining factors in the game, as they combined for 26 points and dominated inside the paint late in the contest. Mauro, a sophomore, finished with a game-high 15 points, including a trio of three pointers, and Foster chipped in 11, with all but two of her points coming in the fourth quarter.

Camille Craig led Lake Placid with 12 points, and Lindsey Rath and Laurel Miller each chipped in six points in the loss.

After seeing their five-point edge evaporate late the third period, Lake Placid’s girls appeared to have a tough time dealing with playoff situation pressure down the stretch, as they suffered from multiple turnovers and missed shots as the clock dwindled.

Lake Placid sophomore Lindsey Rath drives toward the basket while Jonni Stuart defends for Wells during the second half of Tuesday’s Section VII, Class D playoff game in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

“We had our opportunities,” Lake Placid head coach Jeff Potter said. “I keep trying to tell these guys that all these easy points you can’t give up. We missed a lot of layups and put backs, but they played hard. I was happy we were getting a lot of offensive rebounds and second opportunities but we couldn’t convert on those opportunities. We ended up with 43 rebounds.

“What really hurt us were their two big kids inside,” Potter continued “We don’t have size and that’s plagued us all year. Foster had a good fourth quarter getting nine of their 16 points.”

Lake Placid got off to a slow start offensively and trailed 12-6 at the end of the first, but started finding the mark in the second period. The teams went into halftime tied 18-18. The Blue Bombers then opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run as Craig, Laurel Miller and Graci Daby each knocked down a shot to lift the hosts to a 24-18 edge. But Wells then took control by mounting a 20-8 run the rest of the way to improve to 9-10 overall.

“Lake Placid threw us off big time, and then our kids started playing with their hearts on their sleeves and they brought it back,” Wells coach Parris Beach said. “It was really nice to see that happen. We were playing man-to-man for a little while, and then went to a 2-3 zone, which started throwing Lake Placid off a little bit.

“Actually, going and getting stronger on defense and going for that ball helped us turn things around,” Beach added. “Our biggest problem was not rebounding down low. Most of the game, we weren’t getting those rebounds, which we should have. We did that in the end, and I’m very proud of our girls. Our girls are elated, they’re crying, they’re smiling. Now they just have to double down in practice to get ready for this next team. I think we can do it. I’m hoping we can.”

Bella Reid puts up a jump shot for Lake Placid while Sierra Mauro defends for Wells during playoff action Tuesday in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

Monday was the final time that seniors Bella Reid and Paige Megliore played basketball in a Lake Placid uniform. The Blue Bombers finished their campaign with a 5-13 record.

“It was good to get the opportunity to play in sectionals. I don’t even remember the last time Lake Placid had a playoff game at home,” Potter said. “It was a good chance to say goodbye to our seniors. We’re losing Bella and Paige, but the sophomores, juniors and freshmen are already talking about next year already, and that’s a positive. They’ll fret about this for about 10 minutes and then it’s on to the next thing. They’ll be back in the gym again soon.”

Wells 39, Lake Placid 32

Wells 11 7 5 16 — 39

Lake Placid 6 12 6 8 — 32

Wells (39)

Dallas Erb 1-1-3, Ruth Johnson 0-0-0, Rebekah Weaver 2-3-7, Marissa Mattice 0-0-0, Jonni Stuart 1-1-3, Maygan Robinson 0-0-0, Sarah Darling 0-0-0, Sierra Mauro 6-0-15, Erika Foster 5-0-11. Totals: 15-5-39.

Lake Placid (32)

Camille Craig 4-4-12, Laurel Miller 3-0-6, Graci Daby 2-0-4, Lindsey Rath 3-0-6, Paige Megliore 0-0-0, Bella Reid 1-0-2, Kaleigh McKillip 1-0-2.

Three-point goals: Wells (4), Mauro 3, Foster.

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