The Jena Lady Giants started their playoff run Thursday night, February 19, with a huge win over Kaplan as their playoff march continues with all eyes set on Hammond and the state tournament.
For the first time in 20 years the Lady Giants won 20 games in the regular season in back-toback years. Last year, the Lady Giants made it all the way to the quarterfinals before losing at #2 Oak Grove. This year, the ladies are ranked #6 in Div. III Non-Select and would welcome in #27 Kaplan for the first-round game, who came into the contest with a 10-18 record.
The game would start off going back and forth as Kaplan would match each Jena shot. Early in the 2nd quarter, the Lady Giants would appear to be in trouble, tied at 16, and starters Heidi Crawford and Jacquelin Brooks were in foul trouble as Crawford had to sit down with three and Brooks had two. This would not faze the Lady Giants though as they would outscore Kaplan 27-5 in the 2nd quarter to take a 43-19 lead into halftime.
In the 2nd half, the Lady Giants would continue to cruise as they would go on to win 68-42. The Lady Giants would have nine different players score in the game and would make 7 threepoint shots.
Jacquelyn Brooks had 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in the game. Ahja Dorsey had 12 points and 6 steals. Halle Phillips had 8 points, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 3 rebounds. Heidi Crawford had 8 points and 4 rebounds. Sydney Williams had 7 points and 5 rebounds. Lily Lacroix had 6 points, 7 steals, and 4 rebounds. Rylee Masters had 6 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 assists. Ameera Jones had 7 points and A’kiya Phillips had 2 points.
This would be the first time since the 2006 season that the Lady Giants have won a playoff game in back-to-back seasons.
With the win the Lady Giants advance to the 2nd round and will play a familiar opponent in the #11 Church Point Lady Bears. Back on January 5th, the Lady Giants traveled to Church Point and in the 4th quarter had a 12-point lead. Church Point would battle back though and would send the game into overtime. In overtime the Lady Giants would get a late three point shot from Ahja Dorsey to tie the game at 53. The Lady Giants would have the ball but would turn it over with 3 seconds left in the game at mid court. Church Point would get the ball in and make a three point shot at the buzzer to win the game 56-53.
It should be a great game again here in the 2nd round. By the time this article comes out these two teams will have played on Monday night. Hopefully we will be talking about another Jena win and will be preparing for a quarterfinal game on Thursday. (Keep up with all the playoff action on Facebook – The Jena Times.)
Remember you can hear all Lady Giants playoff games on 102.7 KJNAFM. If you are not in the area, then you can download the MIXLR app and search for KJNAFM or go online at www.mixlr.com/kjnafm.
This week’s Lady Giants sports page is sponsored by Homeland Bank.
