Lakenheath's Seraphina Raas takes a jump shot against Alconbury defender Kira Thorne during a high school basketball game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. Raas had nine points in the loss against the Dragons. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Seraphina Raas takes a jump shot against Alconbury defender Kira Thorne during a high school basketball game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. Raas had nine points in the loss against the Dragons. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Bryanna Wallace shoots against Alconbury's Marissa Kastler during a high school basketball game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. Wallace had two points and 15 rebounds in the loss against the Dragons. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Alconbury's Alynna Palacios takes a shot against the Lancer defense during a high school basketball game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. Palacios led her team to a 41-25 victory with 18 points and 13 rebounds. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Alconbury's Derick Caples scores against the Lancers during a high school basketball game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. Caples was the highest scoring player in the game with 22 points. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Maurice Thomas shoots against Alconbury's Spencer Swapp during a high school basketball game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. Thomas earned nine points in the 55-50 Lancer victory over the Dragons. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Kyrie Sloan tries for a shot against Alconbury defenders during a high school basketball game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. Sloan finished with 16 points in the 55-50 Lancer victory over the Dragons. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Daniel Uelman draws a foul from the Alconbury defense during a high school basketball game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. Uelman led his team in scoring with 21 points in the 55-50 Lancer victory over the Dragons. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Alconbury's Kira Thorne draws a foul against Lancer defender Bryanna Wallace during a high school basketball game at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. Thorne had 13 points and seven rebounds in the 41-25 victory over the Lancers. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
RAF LAKENHEATH, England — A slow start for the Lakenheath girls basketball team led to a loss Saturday, but the Lakenheath boys changed their game in time for a win against visiting Alconbury.
Girls A strong start by the Dragons allowed them to coast through the rest of their 41-25 victory over the Lancers, who only scored six points in the first half.
“We did a great job of pressing, getting defensive rebounds and pushing the tempo,” Alconbury coach Jose Nunez said. “When we play that kind of basketball, I don’t think there’s anybody who can take us. Especially with all the weapons that we have on offense.”
Alynna Palacios led her squad to victory with 18 points and 13 rebounds, senior Kira Thorne finished with 13 points and seven rebounds and Marissa Kastler had eight points and six blocks.
The Lancers outscored the Dragons in the second half but couldn’t catch the hefty point lead.
Lakenheath’s Nadia Brooks ended the game with 12 points, followed closely by Seraphina Raas with nine. Bryanna Wallace had 15 rebounds.
Nunez said the Dragons are confident heading in the European championships next week.
“We’re number two seed and we’ve pretty much dominated all of our Division III opponents,” he said.
Boys A switch to a less aggressive defense allowed Lakenheath to secure a second half advantage en route to a 55-50 win against Alconbury.
In the first half, Alconbury was up by six points as the Lancers got into early foul trouble.
Then Lakenheath mirrored Alconbury’s 2-3 zone in the second half, slowed the pace and turned the game into a chess match.
“We made them earn their shots and then we were more patient on offense,” Lakenheath coach Curt Uelman said.
Patience paid off for the Lancers as they went up by two points in the third quarter and maintained their small lead for a win.
Lakenheath’s Daniel Uelman led his team with 21 points, followed by Kyrie Sloan with 16 points and Maurice Thomas with nine.
Alconbury’s Derick Caples was the top scorer of the game with 22 points and his teammates Spencer Swapp had 11 and Will Besterman had eight.
The end of the regular season is bittersweet for five of the Lakenheath seniors as they’ll play their final high school basketball games in the European championships next week.
“We know what we have to do, we know we have a good plan and they’re confident that they can get something out of it if they can just do their best,” Uelman said. “They’ve had good careers here.”
Twitter: @Howard_Stripes
