BOCA RATON – Palm Beach Lakes is one of the top teams in the county and proved it last night as they upset Boca Raton on Senior night.
Keishmy Ayuso went 3-for-3 from behind the arc that helped put the Lady Rams up 14-6 midway through the first quarter.
Boca Raton’s Kelsie Mingo provided a spark late in the first with her three and layup to cut the Lady Rams lead to three.
Ayuso continued her first half surge as she eclipsed 13 points early in second quarter. Ayuso ended the first half with 16 points.
Boca’s Audrey Ramsey brought the Bobcats within four late in the second to make it 28-24. The Lady Bobcats trap defense was superb to put pressure on the Lady Rams right before half.
Ramsey would show up again with a three and Ayuso would return the favor to make it a 32-32 tie at the half.
Ramsey ended the first half with 12 points.
Ramsey was the savior in the third as she kept the game close with a three to pull Bobcats within two. But a steal by Lakes standout Brittany Wilcox led to a dagger three by Ra’Shara Simmons.
Lakes ended the third with a 55-42 advantage over the home team.
In the final frame, Simmons caught fire from behind the arc as Lakes began to pull away with a 70-51 lead midway through the fourth. The Lady Rams tough defense and relentless offensive scores continued in the fourth as they downed the Lady Bobcats to improve their record to 17-2.
Wilcox finished the game with a triple double: 18 points, 10 assists, and 12 rebounds.
After a 18-point loss to the Lady Bobcats last season, Wilcox commented on victory in her post game interview.
“We definitely had to get it back,” Wilcox said. “I know we struggled in the first half, but we definitely came and got it back after halftime.”
Lady Rams head coach Cassandra Rahming would comment on her team’s future.
“Try to go out here and compete night in and night out,” Rahming said. “We’re strong believers that great defense leads to great offense, and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to take it one game at a time.”
Top performers:
Palm Beach Lakes: Ayuso with 27 points; Simmons with 20 points; Wilcox with 18 points
Boca Raton: Ramsey with 21 points; Mingo with 15 points
TAKEAWAY NOTES
PALM BEACH LAKES: The Lady Rams defense is lockdown once they are settled and have their feet under them.
Lakes standout Ayuso led the charge, but Brittany Wilcox is a defense juggernaut for the Lady Rams as she can make key plays on defense that turn into easy points.
Ra’Shara Simmons can catch fire at anytime and give the Lady Rams a spark.
Palm Beach Lakes is a young and well-coached team.
BOCA RATON: The Lady Bobcats can shoot from three and score inside the paint.
Ramsey is something special and plays with a motor. She is undoubtedly the Lady Bobcats leader.
Mingo gives Boca Raton a much needed spark as she go coast to coast and finish plays.
The Lady Bobcats role players are developing and have a promising future that will pay dividends come playoff time.
