‘Up on the wall’: LMS 7th grade girls basketball brings home conference title
Lowell 30, Clark 19
DYER – The Lowell Middle School girls basketball team wanted their place “up on the wall,” according to head coach Tori Langen.
They got it.
On Mar. 8, the Devils went into the gymnasium at Kahler Middle School in Dyer and came out as champions of the Lake Middle School Athletic Conference (LMSAC) with a 30-19 victory over Clark.
Ashlynn Taylor led the Devils with 14 points, followed by Brooke Lomalie with 8 points, Abigail Hernandez with 7 points and Ella Adams with 1 point. While Allie Cochran didn’t score against Clark, she made her defensive presence known to the Coyotes.
Langen said the pivotal moment came when the Devils started “creating havoc” after the switched over to a full court press.
“Ella Adams and Brooke Lomalie played a huge role in this full court defense,” Langen said. “Offensively, Ashlynn Taylor stepped up providing the team with two key 3-point shots. Brooke Lomalie also stepped up offensively driving to the basket, while Abigail Hernandez fought to overcome being face guarded all game by the opposing team and came out victorious.”
Assistant coach Sarah Richardson pointed out the Devils were 11-1 in the regular season, with their only loss coming at the hands of the Coyotes. Richardson said the team embraced the chance at payback.
“The girls did not shy away from the challenge, but were rather excited to have an opportunity for redemption,” Richardson said. “After refining our game plan, the girls executed exactly what they needed to do to pull out a win.”
Richardson indicated the Devils’ game play against Clark was more akin to something one would see at a higher level.
“When watching these girls play, it is easy to forget how young they are,” Richardson observed. “It is so exciting to see girls with this skill level and dedication to the game at such a young age. I am so excited to see what the future brings for these girls.”
This 7th grade team from LMS is another sign of good things to come from the Red Devil girls basketball program. Langen said Lowell High School varsity coach Kelly Chavez has put some serious “time and effort” into all levels of the program, and people can see the results.
“Sectional champions at the varsity, conference champions at the middle school level and it won’t stop there,” Langen said. “Red Devil girls basketball has a bright future ahead of it and I’m extremely proud to be a part of the program.”
Langen has actually been a part of the program for quite awhile at this point. The LHS Class of 2020 alumnus played for Chavez on the high school level, and she said the transition from player to coach was natural for her.
“I quickly fell in love with the feeling of making a positive impact on young athletes,” Langen said. “As I’ve outgrown the sport competitively, watching athletes suceed from my direction and encouragement gives me the same feeling as winning a big game or making a game time shot. It was also easy to adapt to the coaching style of the program and add my own twist, as I’ve played in this very program.”
Final thoughts, Coach?
“Assistant coaches Sarah Richardson and Heidi Shuler provided quick thinking and calling out game time adjustments and ideas,” Langen said. “Having support on the bench for these amazing coaches and support from so many RDP fans made the world of difference. These girls wanted to win a place ‘up on the wall’ for their hometown RDP community and they did just that.”