The Rangers girls’ basketball team ended their season with a 57-51 loss to Strongsville last Wednesday in the Division I sectional at Valley Forge High School. Lakewood spent the first period trading baskets with the Mustangs and took an 11-8 lead with 1:26 remaining on a 3-point field goal by junior Chelsea Kovach. The Rangers led 15-14 after the first eight minutes but that would be their final lead of the night.

Strongsville, who ranked 21 in the final Plain Dealer girls top 25, went on a 10-0 run to open the second period and took a 24-15 lead. The Rangers cut the deficit to 26-23 at the half and came as close as 50-48 in the fourth with 1:41 to go in the game when forward Jamie Wright drained the second three-pointer of the period. Wright, who has led the Rangers in scoring, averaging 10 points a game, finished the night with 12 points and 8 rebounds.

“I could not be any prouder of this team,” Rangers coach Nicole Anderson said after the contest. “We kept getting better and better all year. We had some opportunities tonight but Strongsville is a very quick and athletic team. We only started one senior tonight. We have been battling the top teams all season and I am already looking forward to next season.”

Sophomore Megan Saunders led the Rangers with 16 points. Saunders was Lakewood’s best shooter all season long, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field (37 of 80). Junior Nicole Puzzuoli led the Mustangs with 19 points. Her sister Alex, a senior, hit 10 points as Strongsville improved to 13-8. The girls are the daughters of former Cleveland Browns defensive linemen Dave Puzzuoli. The Rangers ended their season 7-14.