EXETER — The Warriors ended the regular season in style.

The Wyoming Area girls basketball team defeated Lake-Lehman, 73-59 on Wednesday night, building momentum as they head into the district playoffs.

“It definitely gives us a boost,” said Wyoming Area sophomore Sarah Holweg. “It gives us a lot of confidence and motivation.”

Wyoming Area head coach Chad Lojewski was pleased with how the Lady Warriors took care of business against the Black Knights.

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“This was a huge, huge win for the program,” Lojewski said. “We secured the No. 3 seed in the district. It was absolutely fantastic.”

The Warriors (10-3) will enter the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association District 2 Class AAA playoffs this week with their first home playoff game in recent memory. Wyoming Area will host a team to be determined on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

“We don’t know the last time we had a home playoff game,” senior captain Nicole Wright said. “This is the best seed we’ve been in probably our whole history as a team. We’re excited.”

Wyoming Area came alive early in the game from the three-point line. Lydia Edwards, who dropped a three from downtown, opened the scoring for the Warriors. Holweg followed shortly after with a pair of three-pointers, ending the first quarter with a 16-9 lead over Lake-Lehman.

The Black Knights responded in the beginning of the second quarter, closing the gap and taking a two-point lead mid-way through. The Black Knights lead didn’t last long. The Warriors turned up the heat and quickly gained back their foothold.

“Right now we’re getting up and down the floor,” Lojewski said. “We trying to extend our defense to be a little bit aggressive and slow a good team down. We’re peaking at the right time.”

The Warriors full-court press did just that, forcing Lake-Lehman to turn the ball over several times on those occasions.

Holweg’s slick offense quickly helped take back control of the game in the second quarter going into halftime with a 39-22 lead over the Black Knights. The Wyoming Area sophomore scored 10 points in the quarter. Wyoming Area used a 23-6 run to end the half.

“Sarah’s at a point now where, not only does she make everybody around her better, but she’s doing it in such a way — it’s so smooth,” Lojewski said. “She’s playing at such a high level. It’s so much fun to watch. Once she gets locked in, I just sit back and let her do her thing.”

Holweg finished with a game-high 30 points, along with five assists and seven rebounds. Wright finished with five points and controlled the boards for Wyoming Area, pulling down nine rebounds. Wyoming Area was 17-for-20 from the free throw line.

“It was a total team effort,” Holweg said. “I thought everyone played well together and we pulled it off.”

The Warriors scored 22 points in the third quarter bringing a 61-40 lead and sealed the deal in the fourth.

“We had 10 girls score tonight,” Lojewski said. “We are a very athletic team. I am using the tools I got in the tool box.”

On Monday, Edwards scored 14 points and Holweg added 12 to give the Warriors a 52-42 win over Wyoming Seminary.

Patriots have perfect week

Taryn Ashby scored 12 points in her return to the team, including four in the fourth quarter, to help the Patriots rally to victory, 53-43 over Dallas on Monday.

Dallas held a 23-21 lead at halftime when Nikki Wren scored six of her 12 points. But Ashby scored eight points in the second half to lead Pittston Area’s charge to victory.

Kirsten Durling and Marley O’Brien both finished with 11 points for Pittston Area, which clinched second place in the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 with the victory.

On Wednesday, the Patriots got 20 points from Marley O’Brien in a 71-39 win over Coughlin. Megan Cummings contributed 15 points.

The Patriots will be the third seed in the PIAA District 2 Class AAAA playoffs and will most likely host a playoff game on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Their opponent will be determined in the coming days.

Wyoming Area’s Sarah Holweg goes up for a shot against Wyoming Seminary on Monday in Exeter.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_PSDWAgirls4.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Sarah Holweg goes up for a shot against Wyoming Seminary on Monday in Exeter. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Area’s Rachel Solano controls the ball against Wyoming Seminary on Monday in Exeter.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_PSDWAgirls1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Rachel Solano controls the ball against Wyoming Seminary on Monday in Exeter. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Area’s Lydia Edwards takes a shot against Wyoming Seminary on Monday in Exeter.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_PSDWAgirls3.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Lydia Edwards takes a shot against Wyoming Seminary on Monday in Exeter. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Area’s Nicole Wright (with ball) looks for her shot as teammate Addison Orzel awats on Monday in Exeter.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_PSDWAgirls_Wright.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Nicole Wright (with ball) looks for her shot as teammate Addison Orzel awats on Monday in Exeter. Nick Wagner | Sunday Dispatch
WA rattles Lake-Lehman heading into D2 playoffs

By Nathan Boyer

For Sunday Dispatch

Nathan Boyer is an intern for the Sunday Dispatch. Reach the Sunday Dispatch newsroom at 570-655-1418 or email sd@s24530.p831.sites.pressdns.com