Lady Dawgs Scratch out Win over Lady Lions, 51-33

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter 

CROCKETT – The Crockett Lady Bulldogs welcomed the Henderson Lady Lions to the Andrew J. Hopkins Activity Center for a basketball game on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 26 and soundly defeated their guests by a final score of 51-33.

The Lady Dawgs led throughout the contest and were never really threatened after they jumped out to an 18-6 first quarter lead. Crockett was led by Dea’Junique James with six points in the opening eight minutes. Katelin Holmes dropped in four while a quartet of Lady Dawgs each scored two. Henderson’s Resha Hall scored four for the Lady Lions while Ke’Layna Ballard posted two points.

James continued to pace Crockett in the second period with seven and was joined in the scoring column by Shelby Corry, Jada Lockhart and Tracina Moten with two each. The Lady Lions saw four players score two apiece as the Lady Dawgs led by a score of 31-14 when the horn sounded for halftime.

Crockett slowed the pace as the second half got underway and it was reflected in their offensive output.  Lockhart scored three while Corry made one of two from the line.

Henderson got their first three pointer of the game from Samarria Caldwell and was joined by Tomariyah Dixon, Jaclyn Garrett and LaKaylynn Jackson who all netted two in the third to make the score 35-23 with one quarter remaining to play.

As the final eight minutes got underway, the Lady Dawgs offense seemed to get back on track. Mercedes James scored her first points of the game and was joined by Moten with four in the period. Corry hit a three, Anastasia Bolton and D. James both dropped in two and Lockhart hit one of two from the charity stripe.

Henderson was led in the quarter by Destiny Roquemore with seven points, Garrett had two and Dixon added one.

On the game, the leading scorer for Crockett was Dea’Junique James with 15. Shelby Corry and Tracina Moten both went for eight while Jada Lockhart scored six. The trio of Anastasia Bolton, Katelin Holmes and Mercedes James scored four apiece while Tynashia McKnight netted two for the Lady Dawgs.

The Lady Lions were led in scoring by Destiny Roquemore with seven points. Jaclyn Garrett and Resha Hall both scored six, Samarria Caldwell went for five, Ke’ianya Ballard added four, Dixon dropped in three and LaKaylynn Jackson rounded out the Henderson scoring with two.

Following the game, Lady Bulldogs Head Coach Cookie Johnson spoke about her team’s performance so far this season. “We have had some major challenges so far this year because we’ve been playing bigger schools. We started off playing Garrison. Then, our second game was College Station High School and then we played Madisonville in back-to-back games. Last Tuesday, we played Apple Springs and then today we played Henderson. We’re getting there. We’re a little banged up, but we can’t get better unless we play big. Right now we’re 5-4,” Coach Johnson said.

“I like playing the bigger schools. I like the aggressiveness. It makes us work and shows where we need to get better and what we need to work on. Our biggest strength right now is our work ethic. Our work ethic, our defense and playing as a team – those are our strengths,” she added.

The coach said her team will on the road this weekend for the Fairfield tournament. When they return, the Lady Dawgs will face the Navasota Lady Rattlers. Following the game against Navasota, Crockett will compete in the Centerville Tournament and then begin District play against the Hempstead Lady Bobcats.

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