Lee East sweeps Worth County Middle to open basketball season

LEESBURG — The Lee East Middle School basketball teams kicked off their season on Thursday afternoon with a sweep over visiting Worth County Middle School. The Lady Trojans dominated with a 52-6 victory, while the boys rallied to secure a 32-27 comeback win.

The Lady Trojans wasted no time, scoring on the opening play and never looking back. Their stifling defense forced numerous turnovers, creating plenty of fast-break opportunities. Laila Patrick nailed a three-pointer just before the first-quarter buzzer to give Lee East a commanding 16-0 lead. The Lady Trojans extended their lead to 26-2 by halftime and were up 41-4 at the end of the third quarter.

Naraji McDonell and Zaniyah Black each scored 12 points for the Lady Trojans, with Patrick adding 10 to lead the scoring.

The boys’ game proved far more competitive, remaining scoreless through much of the first quarter. The Trojans played with intensity, racing up and down the court, but struggled to make their shots. Worth County managed buzzer-beating three-pointers to close out both the first and second quarters, building a 14-4 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the Trojans found their rhythm, hitting more shots and gradually closing the gap. They outscored the Rams in the final quarters to pull off the comeback win.

Kameron Frankin and Juan Carr led the Trojans with nine points each.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports Editor