By CHAD KEAN, Examiner Contributor
Indian Lake girls basketball head coach Yasmyn Inskeep knows exactly what kind of challenge awaits her team when the Lady Lakers open tournament play Saturday, Feb. 21 at Troy High School, with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m.
The Lady Lakers enter the postseason as the No. 12 seed with a 13–9 record, matching the mark of No. 9 seed Northridge. Despite the difference in seeding, Inskeep expects a tightly contested matchup between two teams that rely heavily on defensive pressure and forcing turnovers.
“Northridge plays at a really fast pace,” Inskeep said. “They’ll press man-to-man, mix in a 1-2-2 three-quarter-court look, and try to speed you up and force turnovers.”
While Indian Lake may look to push the tempo early if opportunities present themselves, Inskeep emphasized flexibility in the game plan.
“We’ve watched a lot of film, and some teams have been able to speed them up and force turnovers,” she said. “If we can get out and run and get easy baskets, we’ll take that. But if it turns into a track meet and we’re not winning it, we’ll settle in, rely on our defense, and control the pace.”
Defense has been the foundation of the Lady Lakers’ success all season, with a clear goal of holding opponents under 40 points. That identity has been anchored by First-Team All-CBC senior Carly Strayer, who has been a steady interior presence on both ends of the floor. Strayer averages 10.4 points and a team-best 8.7 rebounds per game, and Inskeep said her ability to defend the paint and control the glass will be critical against a Northridge team that thrives on second-chance opportunities.
“They average around 15 offensive rebounds a game,” Inskeep said. “Keeping them off the offensive boards is going to be huge for us.”
Junior post Courtney Allstetter will also play a major role in that effort, providing rim protection and rebounding support. Inskeep hopes Allstetter’s size will help discourage drives and limit Northridge’s ability to extend possessions.
On the perimeter, Indian Lake will lean on Second-Team All-CBC guard Kennedy Schwaderer, who has been one of the Lakers’ most consistent scoring and defensive threats. Schwaderer averages 10.4 points per game, has knocked down 31 three-pointers, and is one of the team’s primary on-ball defenders. Inskeep plans to rotate Schwaderer and All-CBC honorable mention Rya Pequignot on Northridge’s top guard to prevent her from getting comfortable.
“That two-punch combo on defense is going to be important for us,” Inskeep said.
Pequignot has been a disruptive force defensively throughout the season, averaging 2.0 steals per game while adding 5.6 points and 1.9 assists. Her ability to pressure the ball and spark transition opportunities has been a key piece of Indian Lake’s defensive identity.
Another key matchup will feature Strayer against a 5-foot-10 Northridge guard known for attacking the lane and finishing through contact.
“Carly’s going to have to play lockdown defense,” Inskeep said. “Keep her out of the paint, force tough shots, and then offensively, if Carly and Courtney can get going inside, that’s big for us.”
Handling the offense will fall largely to CBC Sportsmanship Award recipient Alivia Kinney, who leads the Lakers with 55 assists and serves as the team’s primary floor general. Inskeep credited Kinney’s composure and decision-making as especially important in a tournament environment.
Indian Lake enters tournament play having won three of its last four games, and Inskeep said much of that momentum has come from bench production. With a roster dominated by underclassmen, the Lakers have relied on sophomores to step into meaningful roles.
“Our bench has been huge all year,” she said. “They bring energy, they’re buying into defense, and they’re starting to understand their offensive roles. When they come in and bring that same energy to the floor, it really lifts us.”
Despite Northridge’s strengths, Inskeep feels confident in the matchup.
“I think it’s a great matchup for us,” she said. “Both teams rely on defense and turnovers. It’s going to come down to who controls the boards, takes care of the ball, and doesn’t give up easy baskets.”
With two evenly matched teams meeting in tournament play, Inskeep expects effort, discipline, and defense to decide who moves on.
