Cascades Girls Basketball Crossover Championship Now Set

Kate Starkey led Grass Lake with 26 points. JTV Sports File Photo:

David Rice | JTV Sports

Thursday, February 15th

(2-15-2024, 9:05 PM): A girls basketball rematch between Grass Lake and Leslie from just two weeks ago happened tonight at Grass Lake High School, this time for even bigger stakes. The winner would win the east division likely play Columbia Central in next week’s Cascades Conference Championship (first place crossover).

Four different players scored in the opening quarter for the Warriors, with Junior Kate Starkey scoring four of nine and Lily Smieska scoring seven for the Blackhawks. Reese Lape, Mya Viegelahn, and Grace Bullock also scored in the first quarter for GL along with Alayna Brown for Leslie, tying it at 9-9.

Grass Lake came out to start the second quarter on fire, with Starkey hitting two three-pointers and contributing to an 8-1 run in the first two minutes. Smieska continued to lead Leslie with four second-quarter points. Bullock, Viegelahn, and Aspen Cook also added scoring for the Warriors as they led 25-18 at the half.

Freshman Reese Lape opened the second half with five points along with scoring from three others for the Warriors. Grass Lake doubled the lead to end the quarter, taking a 43-30 lead. 

Grass Lake pulled away in the final quarter to win 55-38 over Leslie and improve to 15-4. Kate Starkey led the way with 26 points for Grass Lake, Reese Lape scored 9 and Mya Viegelahn, Aspen Cook, and Grace Bullock each added six points.

With the win, they will play a rematch with Columbia Central next Thursday (2/23) for the Cascades Conference Championship (1st place crossover). The third place game will feature Hanover Horton vs Leslie. 

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