Lady Giants’ playoff run ends in Westlake
For the second year in a row, the Jena Lady Giants advanced to the quarterfinals in the state basketball playoffs. Although they eventually lost to a tough Westlake team last Thursday, it took nothing away from back-to-back great seasons as the basketball program continues to climb back into dominance.
The Jena Lady Giants, #6 in Div. III Non-Select, played their second-round playoff game a week ago on Monday, February 23. They would take on a familiar opponent in the Church Point Lady Bears #11, a team that beat them earlier in the season. The Lady Giants would have a double-digit lead in the game in the final quarter, but Church Point would battle back to force overtime and then make a three-point shot at the buzzer to defeat Jena.
The Lady Giants, who had been without leading scorer Triniti Williams for about two weeks and did not have her in their first-round playoff win over Kaplan, had Williams on the bench but not in the starting lineup. She was dressed and ready to play and she was needed early on when the Lady Giants found themselves down 11-6 in the first quarter last week. She quickly made a tremendous impact, making a layup and getting fouled where she subsequently sank the extra free throw. She would then later make a threepoint shot to give the Lady Giants a 14-11 lead. At halftime, Jena was leading 24-21, thanks in part to Williams’ 9 points in the first half.
The Lady Giants would lead the entire third quarter and would take a 37-30 lead into the final quarter. It would appear that the Lady Giants were about to put the game away, but Church Point would come back as they would battle back to take a 46-42 lead.
The Lady Giants would then get a three from Lily LaCroix to get within one. LaCroix would make a free throw to tie it at 46. The Lady Giants would then have an inbounds on their own baseline. They would get it to Ameera Jones who would make the three-point shot to give the Lady Giants the 49-46 lead. They would go on to win this thrilling second-round game 55-50 and advance to the quarterfinal round for the second year in a row.
Triniti Williams would lead the Lady Giants with 14 points. In the game for Jena Lily Lacroix had 12 points, Ahja Dorsey had 9 points, Ameera Jones had 7 points, Heidi Crawford had 4 points and 11 rebounds, Jacquelyn Brooks had 3 points, Halle Phillips had 2 points, Rylee Masters had 2 points, and A’Kiya Phillips had 2 points.
With the win, the Lady Giants would advance to play #3 Westlake in the quarterfinal round last Thursday, February 26. Westlake lost in the semifinals a year ago to Oak Grove. The two teams played back on December 2nd with Westlake defeating Jena 63-34.
Westlake is led by star freshman forward Laila Rousell. Both teams would struggle early as Westlake would take an 11-3 lead into the 2nd quarter. Triniti Williams had the only three points for Jena while Rousell had 7 points in the quarter.
Westlake would build their lead to 17-3 in the 2nd quarter before the Lady Giants would finally battle back. Rousell would pick up 3 fouls in the 2nd quarter having to go to the bench in foul trouble. This allowed Jena to go on a 10-2 run to get within 6 points at 19-13 and by halftime, Westlake would take a 26-16 lead.
Rousell would not play in the 3rd quarter for fear of her picking up her 4th foul, but the Lady Giants would be unable to take advantage as they were never able to cut the deficit to single digits. Westlake would take a 35-25 lead into the 4th quarter. Westlake would put the game away in the 4th quarter as they would outscore the Lady Giants 22-10 in the quarter to go on to win 57-35.
Triniti Williams would lead all scorers in the game with 21 points. In the game for the Lady Giants, Jacquelyn Brooks had 7 points, Rylee Masters had 3 points, Heidi Crawford had 3 points, and Halle Phillips had 1 point.
It was not the ending that the Lady Giants wanted but it still was an incredible year and a season that the Lady Giants can be proud of. The job that Head Coach Garrett Hoffpauir has done to rejuvenate this program has been incredible. Back-to-back quarterfinal finishes would seem impossible just a few years ago. A big reason that this foundation was built is attributed to Jena’s three seniors, Lily LaCroix, Sophie Parker, and Triniti Williams. These seniors will be missed next year but their impact on the program will be felt for years to come.
Congratulations ladies on another incredible season.
