The Lakeland High School girls basketball team opened the state tournament in dominant fashion, rolling past Columbia High School 72–28 in their first-round matchup.
Lakeland set the tone early with a fast-paced first half, pushing the ball in transition and applying constant defensive pressure. The Hawks built a commanding lead before halftime thanks to strong shooting and aggressive play on both ends of the floor.
Jaylee Hoffman led the way with 19 points, attacking the basket and knocking down key shots to keep the momentum going. Presley added a game-high 25 points, consistently scoring inside and out to help Lakeland stretch the lead even further.
“We came out hot in the first half and once we took a decent lead we kind of let off the gas and I think we could have played a little harder in the second half” Anabel Bowie said.
With the 72–28 victory, Lakeland advances in the state tournament and will be back in action tomorrow at 12 p.m. MT, looking to carry their strong start into the next round.