Lady Tigers Ride 3-Pointers to Win

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

TRINIDAD – While it wasn’t the Golden State Warriors, the Trinidad Lady Trojans may have thought they were seeing an East Texas version of the record setting 2015-2016 Bay Area team as the Latexo Lady Tigers dropped in 11 three pointers as they blistered the Lady Trojans by a final score of 63-41.

As the game got underway it appeared as if the Lady Trojans might send the Lady Tigers back to Latexo with a loss. Trinidad used the three ball to take a one point lead after the first eight minutes of play. Jaylnn Womack dropped in a three, a two and a free throw for six points in the opening quarter. Erica Airheart scored five on a shot from behind the arc and a two point basket while Magen Looney netted a three of her own to give Trinidad a 14-13 lead after the first period of play.

The Lady Tigers managed to keep pace with the Lady Trojans thanks to a balanced attack on the offensive end of the court. Kelsey Patterson scored four for Latexo, Cinderella Rice nailed a three and a trio of Lady Tigers – Kursten Catoe, Jordan Davenport and Gracie Zalesky – helped keep the score close with two apiece.

During the second quarter, Trinidad opened up a five point lead. Airheart added eight to her total, Victoria Grant added a three and Ashlee Stevenson made one of two from the line to give the Lady Trojans a 26-21 lead at halftime.

Catoe kept the Latexo from falling further behind with seven points in the quarter and Makayla Gunnels converted one of two from the line to account for the Lady Tigers’ second quarter scoring.

When the two teams came out of the locker rooms after the break, it appeared as if the Lady Trojans had lost any momentum they had as Airheart accounted for the only five points posted by Trinidad in the third.

The Lady Tigers, meanwhile, opened up the second half with a hot hand as they hit four three pointers. Kelsey Patterson nailed two three balls for six points. Gunnels scored four from inside and was two for two from the line for six. K. Catoe and Davenport both scored five on a three ball and a two pointer while Madison Catoe got in on the third quarter scoring frenzy with a two. The four three pointers in the third quarter helped the Lady Tigers erase the five point halftime deficit – and along with the Lady Trojans’ cold shooting – Latexo was able to take a 45-31 lead with one quarter left to play.

The Lady Tigers continued to ride the three ball in the final eight minutes of play and netted four more from behind the arc. Davenport hit her second three of the game to go along with a two pointer. Graycie Gibbins, along with K. Catoe and M. Catoe all hit a trey, while Gunnels and Zalesky dropped in two apiece.

Trinidad put up 10 up in the quarter on four points from both Hallie Airheart and Erica Airheart. Jazmyn Burden-Engle dropped in two, but the ice cold third quarter shooting appeared to doom the Lady Trojans and allowed the Lady Tigers walk to off the court with a 63-41 victory.

For the game, the Lady Tigers were led by Kursten Catoe with 17 and Jordan Davenport with 12 points. Kelsey Patterson scored 10, Makayla Gunnels posted nine, Madison Catoe netted five, Gracie Zalesky dropped in four and both Madison Catoe and Graycie Gibbins had three apiece.

Trinidad was led by Erica Airheart’s game high 22 points. Jaylynn Womack scored six, Hallie Airheart had four and both Magen Looney and Victoria Davenport put up three. Jazmyn Burden-Engle scored two while Ashlee Stevenson added a free throw to round out the Lady Trojans’ scoring.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].