Lady Bulldogs Rally for 55-49 Win over Lady Trojans

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

COLDSPRING – The Coldspring-Oakhurst Lady Trojans had a seven point lead heading into the fourth quarter and appeared to be headed to a win over the Crockett Lady Bulldogs. The one thing Coldspring didn’t count on, however, was the dominance displayed by Crockett’s Dea’Junique James in the fourth quarter.

The Lady Trojans had no answer for James as she blistered the Lady Trojans for 24 fourth quarter points as the Lady Dawgs came from behind to defeat their hosts by a final score of 55-49.

As the game got underway, the Lady Trojans seized a one point lead in the first quarter as Destiny Thompson nailed three shots from three point land. Fortunately for Crockett, the only other Coldspring player to score was Sydney McAuliffe who converted two free throws to give the Lady Trojans an 11-10 lead after the first eight minutes of play.

James, however, provided the Coldspring team with a preview of things to come. The senior post player scored seven in the game’s opening period on a three, a two and two free throws. Tynashia McKnight dropped in two and Shelby Corry converted one of two from the line to account for the Lady Dawgs’ first quarter point production.

The Lady Trojans added to their lead in the second period as they scored 13 and held the Lady Dawgs to eight. Bre Bookman and Jade Elrdridge paced Coldspring with four apiece in the quarter while both Jakayla Glaze and Aaliyah Jordan added two, while Ro McKinney chipped in a free throw.

Crockett’s points came from Jada Lockhart with four as both Corry and James had two to make the score 24-18 at the break.

When the two teams returned to the court after halftime, the Lady Trojans managed to add another point to their lead as Thompson dropped in four and Bookman had three. Dasia Douglas added two and Jordan converted one of two from the charity stripe to make the score 34-27 after three.

James paced the Lady Dawgs with five in the third as both McKnight and Mercedes James dropped in two and left the Lady Dawgs staring up at a seven point deficit.

As the final eight minutes of play began, the Lady Trojans tried to run some time off the clock but the Lady Dawgs’ defense would have none of it. The quick hands of the Crockett players began to result in turnovers and D. James was the beneficiary.

While M. James and Lockhart both scored two, it was the Dea’Junique James show in the fourth quarter. She scored every way possible as knocked down eight shots from the field to go along with two, three pointers and two free throws as Crockett came all the way back and won by a final score of 55-49.

The Lady Trojans were led in the game by Destiny Thompson with 16 and Bre Bookman with 11 points. Aaliyah Jordan netted seven, Jade Eldridge added six and Jakayla Glaze added four. Both Dasia Douglas and Sydney McAuliffe scored two while Ro McKinney added a free throw to round out the scoring for Coldspring.

The Lady Dawgs were led by Dea’Junique James with a game high 38 points. She was joined in the scoring column by Jada Lockhart with six as both Mercedes James and Tynashia McKnight added four while Shelby Corry chipped in three to account for all the Lady Bulldogs points in their District 21-3A win.

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