TROY — The climb proved a bit too steep for Indian Lake.
The Lady Lakers saw their 2024-25 season come to a close Wednesday, as they lost 50-25 to Urbana in Division IV girls basketball tournament play at Troy High School.
After hanging with the Lady Climbers through the first period, Urbana’s defense proved very disruptive in the second as they built up a lead.
They continued that effort in the second half, holding Indian Lake to single digits in each period.
Indian Lake ends the year with a record of 14-10.
Kennedy Schwaderer had 11 points and Mackenzie Dixon scored six. Carly Strayer and Courtney Altstaetter rounded it out with four each. Altstaetter also had nine rebounds.
For Urbana (20-4), standout Peyton Mounce led the way with 27 points. Olivia MacKendrick had eight and Brylee Spriggs added seven.
“We knew that (their) defense was going to be a challenge. They have five players that can just suck you in and create those turnovers,” said Indian Lake coach Yasmyn Inskeep. “They’re long and it’s something we struggled with all year.”
She noted that when Altstaetter picked up a second foul and Schwaderer injured her ankle, “we knew we were going to be in a little bit of trouble but we hoped we could weather the storm.”
Each team got a shot to fall in the early going, with MacKendrick hitting for the Climbers and Schwaderer for Indian Lake.
It stayed that way until the midpoint when Schwaderer connected on a 3-pointer with 4:30 to go. MacKendrick scored with just over three minutes left. She was fouled on the play and had a chance to tie, but missed the free throw.
A 3-pointer by Dixon gave the Lakers a lead with 2 1/2 minutes to go. MacKendrick answered. Mounce got her first points on a jumper that fell through the net as the first quarter expired.
Mounce, who averages 26 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Lady Climbers, scored seven straight points in the first couple of minutes of the second quarter. She did so with a field goal, two free throws, then a 3-pointer to make it 15-8.
Schwaderer hit a jumper with 5:15 to go, and after another Urbana basket, hit two free throws to pull Indian Lake within five points.
The home stretch of the first half saw Urbana dial up the defensive pressure even more. They forced multiple turnovers, and converted three of them into baskets to go ahead 23-12.
Altstaetter opened the second half scoring with a second-chance basket. However, Indian Lake would be kept off the board for quite a stretch, while Urbana got three scores by Mounce and one from Lola Rice.
Strayer got a layup in the paint and Dixon followed with a free throw. Urbana kept their distance with a 9-2 run to end the quarter. Spriggs had most of those points for the Climbers.
The Lady Climbers were content to protect their lead in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points. Strayer, Dixon and Altstaetter each got one basket before the younger players finished out the final couple of minutes.
“I’m really proud of these girls and all the work they put in this season,” said Inskeep. “A lot of people counted us out, so to have 14 wins and be sectional champions, that’s a huge accomplishment.”
She praised the leadership of the team’s senior member, Mackenzie Dixon. “We’re truly going to miss her and all of her hard work and everything that she did for the program.”
She noted the goal is to use the experience from this year to build and go further in the future.
Urbana, now 20-4, moves on to face Batavia, who defeated Bishop Fenwick Wednesday. The district final will be played Saturday in Troy.