LAKEWOOD \u2013 The Lakewood girls basketball team survived a late comeback from Long Beach Poly when sophomore Mahlia Simmons hit a go-ahead jump shot with 12 seconds left to lift the Lancers to a 41-39 victory in a thrilling finish Friday night.<\/p>\n
After Simmons banked in the 12-foot jumper from the right elbow of the key, there was still time for the Jackrabbits to tie or potentially win the Moore League contest.<\/p>\n
Poly had no timeouts left so it quickly pushed the ball up the floor.\u00a0Freshman guard Eliana Mao swung the ball to the top of the key to Bella Archer, who missed an open 3 that could\u2019ve won the game.<\/p>\n
Aniyah Lindsey secured the rebound and dribbled out the final seconds for Lakewood.<\/p>\n
Simmons, who finished with six points and five rebounds, was mobbed by her teammates on the sideline in a joyous moment for her and her team.<\/p>\n
Lakewood forward Mahlia Simmons hit a game-winning jump shot to lift the Lancers over Long Beach Poly in a thrilling finish and spoke about what that shot meant to her personally and what this win meant to her team @SoCalVarsity<\/a> @BeachVarsity<\/a> @Lancers_LBUSD<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gFdV9E2xxB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chris Camello (@Chris_Camello) January 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt feels great, I feel wonderful,\u201d a jubilant Simmons said after the game. \u201cI did this for my team. I did this for my family. I\u2019m a Simmons, but I represent Lakewood High School.\u201d<\/p>\n Simmons almost missed this game due to an injury to her left eye.<\/p>\n \u201cMahlia got bit by a spider last night and her left eye was swollen closed,\u201d Lakewood coach Eric Oswell. \u201cI didn\u2019t think she was going to play today. All day at school, she had an eye patch on. She called me on a break and I\u2019m looking at her on FaceTime, and (asked), \u2018why are you dressed up like a pirate?\u2019 \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cShe pulled the patch open and her eye was open that much, so thank God for Benadryl,\u201d Oswell continued. \u201cIt got the swelling down enough that she can play, and she hit a tough shot.\u201d<\/p>\n Lakewood head coach Eric Oswell spoke about his team losing a 12-point lead in the second half, the game-winner from Mahlia Simmons, and how Simmons had to overcome a spider bite on her eye and almost didn\u2019t play \ud83d\udc40 @SoCalVarsity<\/a> @BeachVarsity<\/a> @Lancers_LBUSD<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/xKzRCCFynY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chris Camello (@Chris_Camello) January 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Lakewood (14-10 overall, 8-1 league)\u00a0was led by Lindsey, who finished with a game-high 16 points, four rebounds, and four steals. Leilah Sieng added 11 points and five steals, one of which came in the final 26 seconds of the game and set up Simmons\u2019 game-winning shot.<\/p>\n The Lancers had control for the majority of the game and took a 12-point lead into halftime, 25-13.<\/p>\n The Jackrabbits (6-15, 4-4) slowly chipped away at the lead thanks to Imani Hagens, who scored eight of her team-high 14 points in the third quarter. Poly cut its deficit to 31-24 heading into the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n Poly then went on a 12-2 run to start the fourth quarter and took a 36-33 lead with four minutes left in the game.<\/p>\n Lakewood pushed back with big shots and big free throws. The run was sparked by Mao, who hit two 3-pointers and scored eight of her 10 points in the fourth.<\/p>\n But Archer, who finished the game with four points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals, was not able to complete the comeback by making her 3-point attempt at the end.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Long Beach Poly head coach Carl Buggs spoke about the spirited comeback his team made in the second half, how they got back in this game, and the impact of Bella Archer in the comeback despite a missed 3 at the end @SoCalVarsity<\/a> @BeachVarsity<\/a> @polyjackrabbits<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/LWyHmxaHaX<\/a><\/p>\n