Friday, January 31, 2014
Photo
Lakeview senior Alli Pavlik (15) goes in for a layup while being defended by Liberty’s Sabrina Francis (21) during the first quarter of their game Thursday at Lakeview High School in Cortland. The Bulldogs downed the Leopards, 86-43, to remain undefeated. Pavlik had a game-high 25 points and had 12 steals, which broke the record of 11 set by Sandy Stocz in 1989.
Pavlik powers unbeaten Lakeview
By TIM CLEVELAND
CORTLAND
The hits just keep on coming this season for Alli Pavlik.
Lakeview’s 5-foot-7 senior had already set the school’s single-game and single-season scoring records earlier in the season for the Bulldogs, and she added yet another – the single-game steals mark – Thursday in Lakeview’s 86-43 rout of Liberty.
Pavlik set the record of 12, breaking the previous standard of 11, which was set in 1989 by Sandy Stocz. Pavlik led the Lakeview (17-0, 9-0 All-American Conference, National Division) defense, which forced 38 turnovers.
“I kind of had it as my goal tonight, but I’m just glad I got it,” she said.
Pavlik also led all players with 25 points.
“She always tries in some way to remain driven,” Lakeview coach Adam Lewis said. “When she puts her mind to something, she’s going to do it.”
Liberty coach Ron DeJulio said his team was focused on containing Pavlik, but were unable to do so.
“Pavlik’s very tough to defend,” he said. “She does everything for them. She gets them going running-wise, offensive-wise. We couldn’t take her away. That was our game plan, but we just couldn’t get it done.”
The Bulldogs had much more success in pressing Liberty (12-5, 5-4) than they did the prior meeting this season, which frustrated DeJulio.
“It surprised me because in the first game, they couldn’t press us,” he said. “We broke the press and it was a pretty close game. For some reason, we just didn’t handle the pressure very well tonight.”
Lewis also was at a loss to explain why things were so much different from the first game.
“I don’t know if it’s because the court’s larger,” he said. “They shredded our press the first time. We were in the spots we needed to be and it was a different look than being at their floor.”
Pavlik got Lakeview off to a quick start, getting a steal and a layup for an 18-7 first-quarter lead. She had 10 points in the first quarter.
In the second, she scored 10 consecutive Bulldogs points for a 40-16 advantage.
Pavlik scored 22 of her 25 in the first half.
“Last time we played them, they gave us a pretty good run for our money,” she said. “They’re a very good team. Tonight, we just went out with intensity and we just knew that we couldn’t give up any easy points to them and I think we gave them a good game.”
Lakeview had five players score in double figures. In addition to Pavlik, Jensen Silbaugh (13), Calli Schmitt (12), Laney Lytle (12) and Marissa Naples (11 points and 12 rebounds) scored 10 or more.
Leah Leshnack led Liberty with 19 points and Marcy Dykes scored 11.
With the regular season down to its last five games, Lakeview is close to clinching its third consecutive AAC title. Only Newton Falls – with one league loss – has a chance at catching the Bulldogs.
Their next league game is Thursday at Jefferson, where the Bulldogs can clinch a share of the AAC. Before that, Lakeview has its biggest game of the season Saturday when it battles fellow unbeaten Pymatuning Valley on Saturday at Andover.
“I think we’re the only two (undefeated teams) left in the area,” Lewis said. “It should be an exciting atmosphere.”