Game Recap: Lakeview holds off GWA 49-42

[player_tooltip player_id='727049' first='Emyrie' last='Combs'] continued her excellent play as of late scoring from everywhere for Lakeview and [player_tooltip player_id='1696786' first='Catherine' last='Rowland Williams'] continues to emerge as one of the best young post players in Georgia as they hold off region rival George Walton Academy. The win pulled Lakeview within a game of second place in GIAA AAAA/AAA District 4, but they will still there in the standings as the regular season ended for both teams. Several players stepped up for both teams and their individual play stood out.    After a slow start, Johnson got rolling and kept GWA in the game scoring the ball from several different areas on the court. On the break she scored multiple times off the dribble and passes from hr teammates against Lakeview's full court press. In the half court Kenzie knocked down a three from the left wing and shortly after used a head fake to get her defender off the ground and drove to the middle going left, then finishing off the glass. Johnson also added a nice 10-12 foot pull up from the baseline. Johnson used her size well to rebound the ball and handled it the ball confidence and strength.     Cooper was a blur with the ball often during the game, pushing the ball out with her dominant left hand and blowing by defenders in Lakeview's press. She showed good decision-making after the initial wave of pressure and was able to get into the heart of the defense to score herself or kick out to open shooters from the perimeter. Cooper flashed the ball handling ability a couple times, once on the break she stopped, hit the defender with a hesitation move, and then blew by her, switched the ball to her weaker right hand and finished off the glass. Cooper's quickness was also evident on a very nice backdoor cut where she left the defender like a statue on the wing and another where she stole the ball and went coast to coast for an easy layup.     Lumpkin gave GWA a really nice post presence when she came into the game. Lumpkin is a tall, strong player with good lateral movement and leaping ability. She used that frame well to post and seal her defender on the block and her athleticism was equally as impressive when she sprinted from block to block in transition. Lumpkin had several rebounds and played solid defense. If GWA can get some offensive production out of Leah, then they become an even more dangerous team in the playoffs.     Purdy is the kind of player that does not need the ball to be effective. She competes hard on both ends of the floor and plays the game with great effort and good intelligence. She is an excellent passer out of the high post for Lakeview, dumping the ball down to Williams or hitting her sister, or another shooter, on the perimeter for an open three. She rebounds the ball well and plays hard, solid defense. She is constantly in motion and has no problem doing the dirty work. Purdy is an excellent screener for Combs and the rest of her teammates.     Jones gave Lakeview some very productive and important minutes off the bench in this game. At 5'10 Jones did a nice job using her long wingspan to rebound the ball, including an important offensive rebound that gave her team another possession. On one play Jones stole the ball and exploded out on the break pushing the ball to the other basket before being fouled. The lefty went to the free throw line and knocked down both shots for her team. Jones has a lot of physical tools and could be a very productive player for Lakeview the next couple of years.

Emyrie Combs Emyrie Combs 5'6" | PG Lakeview Academy | 2026 State GA continued her excellent play as of late scoring from everywhere for Lakeview and Catherine Rowland Williams Catherine Rowland Williams 6'1" | PF/C GA continues to emerge as one of the best young post players in Georgia as they hold off region rival George Walton Academy. The win pulled Lakeview within a game of second place in GIAA AAAA/AAA District 4, but they will still there in the standings as the regular season ended for both teams. Several players stepped up for both teams and their individual play stood out.