Lakewood Ranch vs Niceville features 2 high-scoring stars

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- If the Lakewood Ranch and Niceville girls basketball teams look in the mirror they might see a lot of each other.

Both will be making their inaugural appearance in the state final four when they face off in the Class 7A semifinal Friday and both heavily rely on their big player.

If there is a difference, Lakewood Ranch (25-6) appears to have more experienced depth.

The offense for Niceville (21-9) centers around 6-foot-1 senior Jessie Day, the head coach's daughter, who averages 19.3 points and 12.4 rebounds.

The centerpiece of Lakewood Ranch's offense is 6-3 junior LaDazhia Williams, one of the most highly recruited players in the country with offers from South Carolina among others.

For those looking for one of those big-man battles the NBA built its history on, this could be a classic.

But if they neutralize each other it could be the supporting casts that determine the outcome, and Lakewood Ranch may have an advantage with its experience that includes two four-year starters and two three-year starters.

Day, who has signed with Troy, is the Eagles only double figure scorer, though Amanda Wilson (9.1 ppg.) is someone who can spread the floor with her long-range shooting. The 5-7 senior holds the school single-game record with seven 3-pointers.

The rest of the scoring usually comes from 5-6 junior Ashley Lane (8.1 ppg.) and 5-11 sophomore Grace Dowden (7.2 ppg.). The fifth starter is 5-7 senior Kendall Bennett, the Eagles' second-leading rebounder (5.4 rpg.).

Niceville went to the regional final last year for the first time since 2000, which was its only other appearance. Three of its losses this year are to Choctawatchee (24-5) which is in the Class 6A state semifinal.

"Our game plan is to slow down number 23 (Jessie Day). Their offense is based on their center," Lakewood Ranch head coach Tina Hadley said. "They are very methodical, so we are going to have to be dialed in 100 percent on the floor on the defensive end."

The Lakewood Ranch offense also likes to run through Williams, but it proved this year that it can more than hold its own if she is out or in foul trouble.

She missed six games this season and was limited in others because of an injury. It's a reason her stats (15.7 ppg./7.1 rpg.) are down from last year when she averaged 19.8 points and 10.2 rebounds.

In a way her absence was a blessing because the other girls learned they can play at a high level on their own.

"We don't want to play without LaDazhia, but we proved we can and still win,." Hadley said. "In previous years, we relied too much on her. Now we can count on each other."

The core of the team centers around senior wing players Elise Spiller, Kailyn Scully and Kyra Klarkowski, who have a combined 11 seasons as starters, which amounts to about 300 games.

Hadley calls those three girls her X-factor because they played a vital role in changing the program around. Others have come along to help.

"In the beginning four years ago, it was fun even when we had only seven players on the team. Now we have a full team and there is a lot more drive," Scully said. "We are all very competitive players and each of us has the will to win. We want the season to end Saturday at state with the trophy."

The best addition this year has been India Searls, who played perhaps her best game in the regional final win against Palm Harbor University when Williams had to sit because of foul trouble. The 5-11 sophomore scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds and was strong around the basket offensively when the offense bogged down.

She has been a blessing with Aleah Robinson out for the season because of an injury. The 5-10 junior was averaging 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds and was second on the team in 3-pointers.

Another integral piece of this team is 4-10 sophomore backup point guard Sarah Fazio, who Hadley calls her best ball handler.

Though she missed about half the Palm Harbor game, Williams was dominant when she was on the floor finishing with 21 points and six rebounds.

"It was the first game where you saw her play like I know she can play. She would've had about 37 points if not for the foul trouble," Hadley said. "She split the double teams and would pop outside to get the ball and take it to the basket. Some days I have to urge her to play like that, but she can do it every game."

Alan Dell, Herald sports columnist/writer, can be reached at 941-745-7056. Follow him on Twitter @ADellSports

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Lakewood Ranch vs Niceville features 2 high-scoring stars ."