Defense gets Lehman rolling

EXETER – Charlie Levan's team knows something about defense.

Lake-Lehman used some quick hands to pick up 15 steals, setting up two big runs in a 55-28 victory at Wyoming Area in Wyoming Valley Conference girls basketball Thursday night.

It was the kind of showing that makes a coach smile afterward.

Right from the get-go, the defense was strong, Levan said. Our zone was very effective. You could see they were ready for this one. They had their hands out and were in the passing lanes quickly.

Junior Emily Sutton had five steals in the first four minutes of the game, sparking the Black Knights to the game's first 10 points. The Lehman offense found its top scorer, Cayle Spencer, in open space.

Spencer had seven of her game-high 26 points during the initial 10-point outburst. For the sophomore, it was her 11th career game of at least 20 points in 33 contests.

We get a great offensive contribution from Cayle, Levan said. But Emily's capable of that (Sutton had 16 points) and everyone else is starting to chip in a little more.

If that initial 10-0 run wasn't enough to satisfy the Black Knights fans, Lehman made sure not to suffer a road loss at Wyoming Area for a second consecutive year.

Spurred by its defense, the Black Knights put the game away. They forced nine turnovers during a 10-minute stretch in which they held the Warriors scoreless.

Lehman got a runner from Sutton, threes from Spencer and Danae Sutliff, and a stickback by Bethany Williams for the first four baskets during a 26-0 outburst.

We had repeated turnovers and lapses on defense, Wyoming Area coach Ryan Kennedy said. We talked about it and we did make adjustments.

The kids competed hard out there. That's how we got back into the game.

For Wyoming Area, it was a disappointing result for a game in which the Warriors challenged.

Down 10 in the first four minutes, Nicole Wright came off the bench with a pair of buckets to cut the Lehman lead to 15-13 with five minutes remaining in the first half.

Ashlee Blannet's short jumper two minutes into the third quarter sliced the Wyoming Area deficit to 27-22.

They packed the lane on us (with a 2-3 zone), Kennedy said. We like to take advantage of our quickness and get to the rack. You've got to give (Levan) credit for packing the inside and testing our patience while on offense.

After Blannet's shot, set up by a nifty pass in the paint by Serra Degnan, the Warriors went 10:18 without a point until Abby Thornton made a layup.

Sutton finished with 13 rebounds, eight steals and four assists. Emily Wolfgang led Wyoming Area with six rebounds.