One of the most successful seasons for the girls varsity basketball program has come to an end. The team finished with a record of 18-8, which is the programs best since the 2011-2012 season, and made it all the way to the Class 5 District 5 finals.

The Lady Lancers faced off against Washington (25-3) at Eureka high school in an effort to bring home the hardware. Lafayette stayed in range in the first quarter by only being down by four, but they only scored four points in the following second quarter which increased the deficit to a 23-11 halftime score. Lafayette was able to outscore Washington in the third quarter, but the Blue Jays closed out the game in the fourth quarter to seal the deal and win their fourth consecutive District championship by a score of 48-32.

Sophomore Sydnie Wolf had a solid game scoring 15 points, the only Lady Lancer to score in double-digits that night, and collected six rebounds and dished out one dime. Kayla Carpenter went 1 for 3 from behind the arc and scored five points and assisted on one play and Tara Robbe was able to chip in four points and collect six rebounds and one block.

“I think our senior leadership combined with off-season improvements by key underclassmen were keys to our improved record,” Head Coach David Witter said. “Perhaps more significant is the genuine relationships forged throughout the year. Coach Lewis and Coach Meyer were tremendous in providing a fun experience that allowed continued improvement throughout the season.”

Despite losing in the District championship, the team had a terrific year. The team had their first winning season since the 2011-2012 team and finished atop the Suburban West Conference standings. The team will graduate four seniors including Megan Dill, Julia Holdmeyer, Kat Kamrud and Becca Reynolds. Despite an experienced group of players moving, the varsity team is still loaded with talent.

Just like with many great pro basketball teams, they have a “big three”, also known as a group of players that help the team perform at their peak during a game. The Lady Lancers are beginning to form their “big three” as well. Kayla Carpenter is their three-point specialist and still has three more years left in high school basketball. She drained 32 three point shots and was shooting 34.4 percent from behind the arc. Tara Robbe has been a force to be reckoned with in the paint. She averaged 10.8 points per game as well as 6.4 rebounds per game, both career and team highs for Robbe, and has been a shot blocking machine. Lastly, Sydnie Wolf has been the general on the court for the Lady Lancers this season. She is second on the team in points per game and assists with 9 and 1.38 respectively.

“Coach Schroeder has done a great job the past few seasons in creating a culture of competitive success that has served us well at the junior varsity and varsity levels,” Witter said. “Our feeder program had also helped to improve our overall program success. I feel very confident that we have momentum throughout our program that should allow us to keep moving forward.”

It’s safe to say that the girls varsity basketball team is currently on the rise. With a solidified lineup and experienced players going into next season, be sure to keep an eye out for the team in the coming years.