By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — A stingy Arcadia High Hornet (8-1) defense held the Ruston High Lady Bearcats (2-6) at bay 57-45 Tuesday night in Ruston’s Main Gym despite a valiant offensive effort in the fourth quarter.
After trailing 48-30 at the end of the third, Ruston outscored Arcadia 15-9 in the fourth with a couple of chances to cut the lead into single digits before the Lady Hornets pulled away.
The Lady Bearcats struggled early, with Arcadia taking an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter before Ruston went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 12-4 with 2:16 to go in the first quarter after sophomore Gioia Tatum hit her first of four three-pointers of the night.
“Starting off, (Arcadia) made some tough shots that hit us and kind of woke us up,” Ruston High head coach LaShanda Cooper said. “From what I’ve heard, there’s a little rivalry between Ruston and Arcadia, so I think we got a little bit too excited. One we were able to calm down execute our game plan, then we started to see a change.
“(Gioia) really stepped up. We’ve been on her in practice about stepping outside the box and having confidence — that’s the main thing we’re lacking right now, overall, along with chemistry.”
Tatum’s point production (12 points total) matched Ruston High senior Kiersynce McNeal’s 12 points, who made her debut for her final season as a Lady Bearcat after coming off of a knee-injury.
“With Kiersynce coming back, it’s putting us in a situation where we have a veteran,” Cooper said. “She’s going to work. Regardless of her injury, it didn’t stop her. She was still in practice, still out there, and she was the girls’ biggest cheerleaders. Her injury actually gave us the chance to grow up. It allowed others to get more experience for us. And so now with her leadership being on the court instead of just off the court, it’s going to be a big turnaround.”
Sophomore Angelica Green added 11 points, which included two three’s for Ruston.
Ruston High returns to action Tuesday, Dec. 17, at home to take on Airline.
Lady Bearcat Scoring FG(3FG)-FT=TP
Kiersynce McNeal #20, Sr. 5- 2-2 FT = 12
Journi Douglas #21, Jr. 1 = 2
Angelica Green, #4, Soph. 4(2) – 1-2 FT = 11
Bailee Harrison, #23, Soph 1 = 2
Jasmine Summerford #22, Sr. 1-2 FT = 1
Samiya Lewis #3, Sr. 1 = 2
Gioia Tatum #5, Soph 4(4) = 12
Adrianna Robinson #24, Fr. 1 – 1-2 FT = 3
Score by quarter
Ruston 12 + 13 + 5 + 15 = 45
El Dorado 17 + 17 + 13 + 9 = 57
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