By Kyle Roberts
After some offensive miscues in the first half and hot-shooting by No. 2 Denham Springs, the No. 7 Ruston High Lady Bearcats found themselves down 40-20 with five minutes left to go in the third quarter, only to go on a 26-9 run over the next 12 minutes of game time to close the gap to 49-46 with less than a minute left.
It would not be enough, however, as Denham Springs would end Ruston’s season in the quarterfinals 52-46, sending the Jackets to Marsh Madness for the final four of the Non-select Division I playoff bracket.
“What really turned the tide was the way we turned up our defense,” Ruston head coach Meredith Graf said of her team’s second half rally. “We forced a lot of ball pressure turnovers down the stretch. We just couldn’t come up with that last shot near the end to make it within one. I think we had opportunities; I just don’t think overall tonight we shot well from outside.
“The most important thing about this group– their heart was on display tonight. The fact that you’re down 20 on the road to the number two seed in the state and you found a way to come back within three. That’s pretty amazing. And you don’t do that without great leadership and great hearts and people giving tremendous efforts. It’s why we’ve been successful this entire year.”
Ruston would score the first four points of the game but would struggle from there to score and trailed 28-19 at halftime prior to their second half rally.
“The start of the game didn’t go in our favor,” Graf said. “We we’re executing well. Denham Springs, with the way they shoot, it only takes a couple trips down the floors and they can be up ten in no time. They have a great team and they capitalized off of our mistakes.”
The Lady Bearcats were led in scoring by senior Jaliyah McWain with 18 points, while senior Zaccheya Jackson finished the night with 13.
“We had pure fight to the very end,” Graf concluded. “Sometimes the balls don’t bounce your way, but truly, I could not be more thankful. From a coaching standpoint, it is so much easier to walk away and be at peace when you leave it all out there and play so hard you know you gave everything. I think the girls feel the game way.”
Ruston High’s season ends with an overall record of 23-8 with a District 2-5A championship.
