Lions and Ravens Split Superconference Doubleheader in Saturday Area Game of the Week

Article credit: Zach Ulin/KCII
It was a Saturday matinee style doubleheader for the Lone Tree and Hillcrest Academy girls and boys basketball teams in the Lion den, with the Lady Lions and Raven boys walking away victorious once action was complete.

First up was the girls game, and it was Hillcrest that jumped out to an early 22-14 lead after eight minutes. However, Lone Tree would go on a 10-0 run before the Ravens could hit another basket in the second to cut into the Hillcrest lead going into half 31-28. From there, it was all Lady Lions. Lone Tree would use a 24-2 run that spanned all of the third frame to pull ahead for good, and would end up taking the win by a final of 67-36.

Unofficially, Lone Tree ended plus-17 in rebounds, while committing 11 fewer turnovers than the Ravens. Finley Jacque piled up 24 points to lead Lone Tree, including four three-point shots. Hillcrest had only four players score total in the game, and were led by 19 from Niva Helmuth. Claire Withrow also had 13 for the Ravens, all coming in the first quarter.

After the game, Lone Tree Head Coach Ryan Shelman talked with KCII Sports about his team’s first victory of 2025. “It’s always tough that first game [back from break]. Finding legs, finding our rhythm. We did much better in the second half, but just super proud of our girls’ resiliency and kind of battling back from some hardships there in the first half,” Shelman said.

In the boys game, it was the Ravens that led from start to finish, capturing a 69-47 victory. Hillcrest would put up 19 points in the first frame followed by 18 in the second to take a 13-point advantage into halftime. Lone Tree would attempt a run in the third of 6-0, but the Ravens put that run to bed with buckets by Seth Ours, Mason Bender and Kale Bailey to make it 49-34 going into the fourth. Lone Tree could only muster to net three points on the Ravens in the final eight minutes, sealing their fate.

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