By Randy Stevens
KYLE — Lehman head girls basketball coach Danny Pruess gave his team fair warning.
Lockhart, a program that has experienced its share of struggles the past decade, was no longer a team that could be taken lightly.
His Lady Lobos witnessed that fact first hand, as the Lady Lions gave Lehman a strong run for its money Monday night in a District 17-4A game at the LHS gymnasium. But thanks to a 28-point effort from senior guard BriAnna Garza, and her strong play in the waning moments, Lehman was able to hold off the feisty Lady Lions for a 50-46 victory.
Lehman (9-9, 2-1) might have thought their coach was exaggerating after jumping out to a 7-2 lead in the first quarter, but the Lady Lions were able to battle back a take an 8-7 lead going into the second frame, thanks in part to a pair of inside baskets from Tori Hill.
Momentum remained on the Lady Lions’ side, as Lockhart (4-8, 0-2) used a 5-0 run to grab a 15-11 lead midway through the second quarter. But LHS responded with 6-0 run with the aid of two buckets from Amara Smith and a pair of free throws from Garza to even the score at 17-all.
Lockhart’s Isis Johnson drove the baseline for an inside basket in the closing seconds to give the Lady Lions a 19-17 lead going into the break.
The Lady Lions looked to be pulling away by opening the third quarter with a 9-3 run that gave Lockhart a 28-20 lead, but Lehman turned the tide with an 12-2 run, with Garza spearheading the surge with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
She capped the run by stealing an inbound pass and driving strong to the basket for an easy lay-up that gave Lehman a 32-30 lead going into the fourth.
Garza’s 3-point barrage continued, as one from the right corner and another from 25 feet away helped put Lehman ahead 44-40 with 3:34 left in the game.
Garza then sank a pair of free throws to extend the Lady Lobos’ lead to 46-41, before Lockhart’s Desi Winn drained a 3-pointer to pull the Lady Lions to within two.
But Garza answered on the ensuing possession, pushing her way past a Lockhart defender with head fake and drive with 22 seconds left in the game, giving LHS a 48-44 edge.
A Lady Lion turnover doomed any last-second heroics for Lockhart, as Lehman’s Kerry Robinson scored Lehman’s last points with an easy lay-up after a steal.
Lockhart’s Winn threw in a put-back shot with three seconds left, but it was too little, too late as Lehman held on for the 50-46 win.
Garza led all scorers and had six 3-pointers in the win while receiving help from Robinson with eight points and Liz Valdarez’ six points.
Johnson led the Lady Lions with 15 points.
The Lady Lobos are back in action Tuesday, Dec. 28 when the team travels to play in the Mansfield Tournament.
Varsity Girls Basketball
Lockhart 8 11 11 16 — 46
Lehman 7 10 15 18 — 50
Lockhart — Isis Johnson 15, Cassie Schroeder 8, Desi Winn 8, Tori Hill 8, Alisha Officer 7, Andrea McKinney 2.
Lehman — BriAnna Garza 28, Kerry Robinson 8, Liz Valderaz 6, Ariana Gallegos 4.
