Yorktown did its best to come back, but host Lakeland held on for a 47-44 victory on Dec. 22.
“It means a lot to be able to get the win against a tough matchup like Yorktown,” said Lakeland’s Riley Waters. “They are a very hard-working and well-coached team. It (the win) is going to bring positive energy into the new year and allow us to have the confidence to continue to win games.”
Waters led Lakeland to the crosstown rivalry win with a game-high 18 points, including 9 of 10 free-throw shooting.
“Throughout the game I was able to score in transition and also get to the foul line,” Waters said.
Emily Hahn (8 points), Liliana Aguirre (7 points), Carina Cannizzaro (7 points), Adriana Ar-Bab (6 points), and Lily Bauer (1 point) also scored for Lakeland.
Erin Duffy (11 points), Reilly Acosta (10 points), Addison Schluter (8 points), Sophia Marcello (5 points), Ava Ryan (5 points), Isabella Todd (4 points), and Maya Price (1 point) scored for Yorktown.
Helping Lakeland earn the win was its ability to build a 23-15 lead going into halftime.
Seven points, including a 3-pointer from Cannizzaro, and a field goal apiece from Hahn and Waters supplied the scoring in the first quarter, with Waters (a field goal and 4 of 4 from the foul line), Aguirre (3 of 4 from the charity stripe), and a trey by Ar-Bab providing the scoring in the second quarter.
“We were able to beat their press and get into the offense and run our plays successfully,” Waters said. “Defensively, we got a lot of rebounds and played really hard as a unit.”
Each team scored 11 points in the third quarter, leaving Lakeland up 34-26 going into the final stanza. Yorktown closed the gap, outscoring Lakeland 18-13 in the fourth quarter, led by 8 points from Acosta, including two 3-pointers, and 7 points from Duffy, including a trey.
“Our team was able to outscore Lakeland in the fourth quarter because our coach (Kristi Dini) put in new plays, we got more aggressive, our shots were falling, and we had so much in us and wanted to finish,” Schluter said.
Lakeland, though, was able to keep its composure to hang on for the win.
“We were very focused on the outcome and didn’t let their run faze us,” Waters said.
Lakeland (3-3) hosted John Jay–Cross River on Dec. 18, winning 60-55, led by Riley Waters (23 points, 4 assists, 5 steals), Aguirre (17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals), Hahn (10 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals), Cannizzaro (6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks), and Allie Waters (4 points, 3 assists, 5 steals).
Lakeland fell to visiting Brewster 41-37 on Dec. 15, paced by Aguirre (16 points), Allie Waters (6 points), Cannizzaro (6 points), Hahn (4 points), Ar-Bab (3 points), and Riley Waters (2 points).
Previously, Yorktown won its third game in a row with a 45-27 win at Nanuet on Dec. 19, led by Acosta (15 points), Ryan (10 points), and Duffy (11 rebounds).
“The major reason for us going on that (three-game) winning streak is all the scouting we did throughout practice,” Schluter said. “We learned the other team’s press offense and defense, and got coached on how to beat it.”
Personally, what has helped Schluter is the work she has done with her free-throw shooting.
“I’ve improved with my free throws from the beginning of the season because of one of my old teammates, Sofia Boucher (All-League in 2024-25),” Schluter said. “She came home from college, gave me tips, and ever since then I’ve been making more.”
The Huskers played at Brewster on Dec. 17, defeating the Bears 37-28, avenging an opening-night loss, paced by Duffy (12 points), Schluter (9 points), Acosta (8 points, 8 assists), and Ryan (11 rebounds).
Yorktown (3-4) started its three-game winning streak by winning at Walter Panas 38-27 on Dec. 15, led by Schluter (8 points, 8 rebounds), Ryan (8 points), Acosta (8 points), Marcello (8 points), and Todd (9 rebounds).
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