Gallery: Lake Weir holds off second-half rally by Vanguard to stay undefeated

Vanguard’s Kristen Moore (5) and Lake Weir’s Erilynn Beltre (3) hit the floor as they battle for a loose ball during a basketball game at Lake Weir High School in Candler, Fla. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

The Lake Weir Hurricanes girls basketball team moved to 5-0 on the season under first-year head coach Briana Smith as seniors Reniya Ford, Shanice Brown and Sa’ Naria Gunsby used their experience to pull out a win.

Lake Weir came out the gates firing on all cylinders as they took a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game on the backs of Ford and Gunsby. Vanguard landed their first bucket of the game when senior Makiya Mitchell twirled in an easy layup at the three-minute mark of the first quarter.

Vanguard pulled within three before Lake Weir senior Tatum Lake drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 20 seconds left to in the period to give her team a 10-4 lead.

The second quarter featured more offense as both teams started landing shots. Continuing to lead the way for Lake Weir was Lake as she used her quick shooting release to knock down two 3-pointers in the quarter and the aforementioned senior trio for Lake Weir hauled in nine rebounds.

Vanguard’s offense found life as Mitchell, Kenaria Dowdy, Diana Gegaj and Annabelle Francois all made baskets but still trailed 26-14 at halftime.

Vanguard head coach Terrance Lewis made a couple of adjustments at the half to get his team back into the game.

“I made minor adjustments and from the first possession of the second half, you could tell it sparked us. There was never a doubt in the locker room and as soon as we hit that spark, everybody knew what to do and we woke up,” Lewis said.

The defensive adjustments gave Lake Weir’s offense fits as Vanguard played press defense to make every possession difficult. Lake Weir committed seven turnovers in a difficult quarter that ended with them scoring just four points.

For Vanguard, Dowdy scored five points and picked up two steals in the quarter while senior Jyla Gunsby added on five points, three rebounds and a block to cut the deficit to one point by the end of the third quarter.

Despite the rough quarter, Smith learned a lot about her team and feel it can be worked on as the season goes on.

“It just caught them off guard with how aggressive Vanguard was playing defense and credit to them because they came out and did not quit. I want them to be able to respond and not give life by feeding into the defensive pressure. I want them to get better at it and its something we will hash out in practice,” Smith said.

With Lake Weir clinging to a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the stage was set for players to step up and make a name for themselves in pressure situations.

Dowdy came up with a huge steal and breakaway layup to give Vanguard it’s first lead of the night on the first possession of the final period. A 3-pointer by Mitchell gave her team a four-point lead, their largest of the night, but Lake Weir fought back after Dowdy missed two free throws.

Brown would get the rebound and make a shot in transition. Following a bevy of rebounds and missed shot from both teams, Brown was fouled by Gunsby and went to the free-throw line with the opportunity to tie the game.

After Brown made the first free throw, a substitution error by Vanguard led to a technical foul and gave two extra free throws to Brown. The senior made three of four to give Lake Weir a 37-34 lead with just under two minutes left.

“I was just thinking to myself to not miss these free throws because we needed them and I already missed some layups so we needed those points,” Brown said.

“Those were crucial and I’m so glad she stepped up to the plate. She’s one of our seniors and we count on her a lot for leadership, I’m glad she showed she is not only a leader in words but also in action,” Smith said.

Vanguard had an opportunity to get within one point, but Mitchell missed the second free throw and Brown came down with the rebound before assisting Gunsby on a layup to extend the lead to four.

Ford would sink one of her two free throws in the final seconds to seal the 40-35 win for Lake Weir. The senior finished the night with 10 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Brown ended the game with a team-high 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

The group of seniors is the strength of the Lake Weir team and used their experience and talent late in the game to bring home the win.

“I depend on them heavily but over the course of the season I want to get my underclassmen more into the mix as well. Our seniors do a lot and I’m grateful for what they do but I want our underclassmen to be able to step up to the plate when they’re on the floor because they have huge shoes to fill,” Smith said.

Mitchell scored a team-high 10 points for Vanguard combined with three steals and two rebounds. Jyla Gunsby was a menace in the paint with seven points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Dowdy, a freshman, finished with nine points and four steals.

Dowdy doesn’t appear to be a freshman with her play on the court and her demeanor in high-stress situations.

“She loves the moment and is just unfazed about anything. In practice she is unfazed and usually a freshman is a little timid or hesitant but not her,” Lewis said.

With her team moving to 5-0, Smith wants the players to stay motivated and not get too comfortable with the early success.

“I’m glad to see that they’re responding to how I coach and the way I coach. I hope it’s something we can keep going but with each win we pick up, I don’t want them to get too comfortable. I want them to continue to stay hungry and always want to work.”

Lake Weir will look to move to 6-0 when they host North Marion on Friday at 6. Vanguard, now 1-3 on the season, hits the road to face Wildwood tomorrow at 7:30.