Strong Second Half Gives Lady Bulldogs Win
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
CROCKETT – The Crockett Lady Bulldogs were atop the District 21-3A standings all by themselves after they defeated the New Waverly Lady Bulldogs last week. New Waverly had lost two district ballgames – one to Crockett and one to the Coldspring-Oakhurst Lady Trojans.
Crockett had lost only once in district play and that was to New Waverly early in league play. On Tuesday night, Jan. 31, the Lady Dawgs welcomed Coldspring to the Andrew J. Hopkins Activity Center and at least in the first half it appeared the Lady Trojans were primed to spring their second upset of the year on a group of Lady Bulldogs.
As the game got underway, it looked like the Lady Dawgs were sleepwalking through the first half as the Lady Trojans raced out to a 29-22 first half lead.
The shots were simply not falling for Crockett as the Lady Dawgs only posted 10 first quarter points. Mercedes James dropped in four while Anastasia Bolton, Dea’Junique James and Tynashia McKnight all had two.
Meanwhile, the Lady Trojans put up 17 to take a 17-10 lead into the second quarter. Destiny Thompson led the way for Coldspring with eight points while Aaliyah Jordan had three and a trio of Lady Trojans – Bre Bookman, Jakayla Glaze and Aaliyah Jordan all had two.
The Lady Trojans pushed their lead out to 12 before the break but the Lady Dawgs whittled it down and when D. James hit a three just before the horn to end the first half, the Lady Dawgs had seized the momentum and kept the halftime deficit to seven. D. James made one of two shots from the charity stripe to go along with her three, while Dea’Veon Farris, M. James, Jada Lockhart and McKnight all added two and kept the Lady Dawgs within striking distance.
Coldspring was led by Glaze, Sydney McAuliffe and Thompson who all had three while Dasia Douglas had two and Jordan knocked own one of two from the free throw line.
It was Senior Night at the Hop last Tuesday and Crockett Lady Bulldogs seniors Shelby Corry and Tracina Moten were honored at halftime for their contributions to the Crockett Lady Bulldogs Basketball program.
It was a new game after the ceremony as the Lady Dawgs rode the momentum swing from D. James buzzer beater just before halftime to a 24 point third quarter while they held the Lady Trojans to nine. Jade Eldridge went for five points for Coldspring while Jordan and Thompson added two apiece.
D. James dominated the third quarter as she poured in 11 points. Corry broke into the scoring column with six points while McKnight scored four and Bolton drained a 3-pointer to give the Lady Dawgs 46-38 lead after the third quarter.
At the start of the final eight minutes, the Lady Dawgs smelled victory in the air and clamped down defensively, limiting the Lady Trojans to six fourth quarter points on twos from Douglas, Jordan and Thompson.
Crockett, meanwhile, secured the victory with a 15 point effort in the final eight minutes. Corry nailed two 3-pointers while D. James dropped in three, 2-pointers and Lockhart chipped in two as the Lady Dawgs escaped the upset bid with 61-44 victory.
With the win over Coldspring, a bye on Friday, Feb. 3 and a road game against the Anderson-Shiro Lady Owls on Tuesday, Feb. 7, the Crockett Lady Bulldogs have assured themselves of at least a tie for the District 21-3A Championship. While anything can happen, the Lady Owls are currently 1-9 in district competition and haven’t won a district game since December of last year.
Furthermore, if the postseason started tomorrow, Crockett would finish as district champions, New Waverly would be second, Coldspring would finish third and Onalaska would draw the final playoff spot.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
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