Going into last week’s Class 5 girls’ basketball sectional against Hazelwood East, Lindbergh High School head coach Bill Thoele’s biggest concern was the Spartans’ physical inside game.

But it was Hazelwood East’s outside game that shocked the Flyers as the Spartans jumped out to a commanding 30-10 lead on a total of six three-point shots in the first quarter.

“They (Hazelwood East) came out and hit six three-pointers in the first quarter,” Thoele said. “I think we came out a little nervous and ended up down 30-10 after the first quarter.”

Yet Lindbergh battled back in the second quarter by trimming Hazelwood East’s lead to 41-25 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Spartans played to a 58-38 advantage en route to the 75-54 win.

“We were a little nervous,” Thoele said. “But I think we came out and played well after that first quarter.”

Keona Blair led the Flyers with 17 points, two steals and one rebound.

Blair ended the season with 10.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game after playing just eight games.

“The thing about Keona is that she’s a really good outside shooter,” Thoele said. “If you try to guard her at the perimeter, she can then beat you on that first step and take you to the hoop.

“She’s going to turn into a really good player over the next three years,” the Lindbergh coach added.

Lindbergh’s Brittany Casey also scored in double figures with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Casey averaged 11.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season while also racking up 45 assists and 16 blocked shots.

“When Brittany’s confident, she can play with anyone,” Thoele said. “She took on (Channon) Haywood and hit a couple of big shots over Haywood’s head.”

Rounding out Lindbergh’s trio of players who scored in double figures was Alicia Ubriaco with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot.

Nine of Ubriaco’s 11 points came from three-point shots.

Ubriaco led the Flyers this season with 44 three-point shots while also averaging 8.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

“Alicia’s a big three-point shooter for us,” Thoele said. “If you leave her open, she’s going to knock them down. What we’re going to do now is work on her drive to the basket.”

With Blair, Casey and Alicia Ubriaco returning next year, Thoele believes that the Flyers will be poised to have another solid season.

“We’re going to basically have four starters back,” Thoele said.

“With the majority of our players coming back next year, I expect us to be real competitive.”