Green Dragons Edge Tigers

LAKE PLACID - The team concept proved stronger than a single individual in Thursday night's game between Lake Placid and Clewiston.

Led by Ashley Paeplow's team-high 12 points, the Green Dragons placed three players in double figures and held on for a 44-43 win over the Tigers in girls basketball.

Clewiston's Desiree Lopez was a one-girl scoring machine as she poured in 32 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, but Lake Placid's offensive balance proved to be the difference.

"We needed a win, and I was just going on adrenaline," said Paeplow. "My shot felt good tonight and I just kept shooting.

"It's good to beat Clewiston because they beat us last month, but it shouldn't have been this close."

The win improved the Class 3A Green Dragons to 4-5 and gives them some much-needed confidence.

"A win like this makes us stronger," said sophomore forward Sierra Weaver. "We're depending on each other more and learning to trust each other, and that makes us a better team."

Lake Placid utilized its quickness by employing a full-court press to open the game and forced the Tigers into numerous turnovers.

Stacy Davis scored four points and center Shardesia Sholtz added four as the Dragons took a 10-4 lead. Clewiston, fueled by Lopez's 10 points, went on a 8-2 run to tie the game at 12 heading to the second period.

Paeplow found her stroke and scored 10 of her 12 points on jump shots inside the paint, as Lake Placid took a 22-15 lead with under three minutes remaining in the quarter.

The Tigers roared back behind four points by DeAndrea Trotties and six points by Latesha Coleman to tie the game at 22.

The Dragons regained control as Kaneisha Hamilton scored three points and Weaver, who also hauled down 12 rebounds, added a basket for a 27-22 halftime lead.

Weaver continued to dominate in the paint and converted a 3-point play and Paeplow nailed a jumper for a 34-29 lead heading into the final eight minutes of play.

Clewiston refused to fold, as Lopez, who was unstoppable under the basket, scored nine points to tie the game at 36 with 5:31 remaining to play.

The game see-sawed back and forth until Lopez scored to put the Tigers on top 43-41 with 1:35 left to play.

Sholtz swished a baseline jumper to tie the game with under a minute remaining.

Clewiston, which had 25 turnovers, made an errant pass and Hamilton was fouled driving for a lay-up with 12 seconds to play.

Hamilton swished the first attempt, but missed the second to give Clewiston a chance to win the game.

The Class 3A Tigers, who dropped to 3-7, missed their last shot and Lake Placid rebounded the ball as time ran out.

"That was quite a game," Green Dragon coach Shonda Legree said. "It's good to beat Clewiston because they beat us in the last few seconds at their place. "This was an up and down game, but I really like the fact that we had three girls in double figures.

"This win gives me some confidence and I hope it gives the girls some, because we have to stick together to be our best."