By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — The night would go down to the proverbial wire Monday night in the Ruston High Main Gym between two rivals with district title implications on their minds.
But unfortunately for the Ruston Lady Bearcats (13-6; 2-2 District 2-5A) Neville got just enough at the end for a 53-50 win and the 2026 District 2-5A title.
“We played hard tonight, but made too many mental mistakes and didn’t stay disciplined with the game plan,” Ruston High Head Coach LaShanda Cooper said. “Turnovers hurt us and kept us from getting into a consistent offensive rhythm. We were able to generate several good open looks.”
The first quarter saw a back-and-forth of scoring and lead changes with neither team getting up by more than three points. Ruston sophomore Adrianna Robinson proved to be a force at the basket and scored eight points in the first period alone as Neville led 17-15 going into the second.
The Tigers (19-5; 4-0 District 2-5A) would extend their lead to 21-15 after holding Ruston scoreless for the first two minutes of the quarter before taking their first time out of the first half. Senior Lady Bearcat Journi Douglas would get her first basket of the game at the 5:17 mark of the half with a three-pointer to cut Neville’s lead to 21-18. Junior Kearra Wilson for Ruston would get a lay-up on a fast break to bring it to within one-point at 21-20 but would have to be subbed out after hitting the ground with an apparent leg injury (she would return to the floor at the start of the third quarter).
Douglas would knock another three down less than two minutes later to tie the game at 23-23, but the Lady Tigers would regain the lead and be up at halftime 32-28.
Robinson would get the first basket of the second half for the Lady Bearcats and on the next possession for Ruston, Wilson would hit her first of two three-pointers in just over 60 seconds to tie the game 33-33 at the 5:07 mark. Her second three gave Ruston its first lead since the first quarter at 36-35 with 4:01 to go in the third.
After a basket by Neville’s Kameya West-Robinson, Wilson scored her eighth point of the third quarter to put Ruston on top 38-37 at the 2:51 mark of the third quarter. And after Neville’s Jayla Taylor gave the Lady Tigers a brief lead near the end of the period, junior Angelica Green got a basket on a put-back following an offensive rebound to give Ruston the 40-39 leading going into the fourth quarter.
It was more back-and-forth scoring in the fourth quarter with multiple lead changes as Taylor kept Neville within striking distance with multiple midrange jumpers. Robinson would get a basket with 2:37 to play to put Ruston ahead 48-47, and Wilson would draw a critical charge on Neville’s ensuing possession and led to another Robinson basket thanks to a terrific assist from Green.
Neville retook the lead after back-to-back baskets by Lyric Gay at 51-50 with 1:05 left to go. Neville would turn the ball over with 0:24 left to go to give Ruston a chance at a go-ahead score, but a Lady Bearcat offensive foul gave the ball right back to the Lady Tigers.
Gay was then sent to the line and only hit one of her two free throws with 17 seconds left to go. Ruston’s Wilson had a shot blocked in the last few seconds and Neville would get the thrilling win 53-50 to win the 2026 District 2-5A title.
Robinson led Ruston in scoring with 17 points, while Wilson had 14. Neville’s Taylor led all scorers with 20.
“We felt they would have difficulty stopping Adrianna, and she did a great job establishing herself in the paint,” Cooper said. “She stayed ready to catch, finish, and be a strong presence inside. We’ve been challenging her to dominate the paint, and I thought she really stepped up and answered that challenge tonight.”
The Lady Bearcats will be back in action Wednesday, Feb. 11, for a home game against Ouachita. Tip off is set for 5:30.
