PORTSMOUTH — Lakeland’s three games in Norcom’s Christmas Tournament ended with the Lady Cavaliers claiming a handsome trophy.

It wasn’t the championship trophy of the Gray bracket, however, as the Lady Cavaliers fell 50-39 to Bayside Friday night after winning their first two games in the tournament.

Considering the Lady Cavaliers entered the event with a 1-5 record and tripled their win column in a three-day span, the trophy should stand as a good symbol of where the Lady Cavs can go with most of the Southeastern District schedule still to play.

Lakeland’s defensive effort led the way in tight, low-scoring wins over Norview and Granby Wednesday and Thursday.

The Lady Cavs had similar success keeping Bayside in check until the last 10 minutes of the final. From a 35-31 Bayside lead, the Lady Marlins rolled off a 12-0 run in a 7:52 span to take control of the game.

Lakeland jumped out to a 10-5 lead with five different Lady Cavs netting two points apiece. That type of balance was how the Lady Cavaliers got it done in their two wins. In Lakeland’s 39-37 win over Granby, Dashea Collins led the Lady Cavs with eight points.

Tashah Woodus scored with a turnaround shot in the paint and Shaikeyla Jordan hit a jumper in the final 0:50 of the first to give Lakeland a 16-13 lead going to the second quarter.

Lakeland led until Bayside scored 11 straight points in the last four minutes of the half to take a 28-22 lead. Collins, Jordan, Woodus, Laneisha Gainey and Vici Treat scored four points each in the half.

Collins drained Lakeland’s first three-pointer of the game to cut Bayside’s lead to 28-25 early in the third period. Jordan finished her own steal and fast break with a short jumper, followed by Gainey hitting a 16-foot jumper on Lakeland’s next possession, to bring the Lady Cavs within a 35-31 deficit with 2:22 to play in the third.

Gainey’s hoop was the last Lakeland score for nearly a quarter. Lakeland’s defensive intensity still made it tough but Bayside slowly pulled away for a safe lead going into the last couple minutes.

Jordan led the Lady Cavs with 11 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team. She averaged 7.3 points and 5.0 steals per game for the tourney.

Collins scored nine points. Chardonnay Patterson led Lakeland with 13 rebounds. Treat added five points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Cavaliers (3-6, 1-4) go back to Southeastern District play and travel to Grassfield Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. tip.