Decade of Excellence: John Curtis back in state tournament for 10th straight year
by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
Regardless of the team facing John Curtis Christian’s girls in Thursday’s Division I select semifinal, the Lady Patriots will be dug in and ready to compete.
The fact that top-seeded John Curtis (23-0) is facing fourth-seeded Huntington (19-7), the team that eliminated the Lady Patriots in last year’s state semifinal, won’t carry any additional weight when the two teams meet at 2:45 p.m. Thursday at Southeastern Louisiana’s University Center in Hammond.
“The girls are motivated to play anyone,” John Curtis fourth-year coach Alendra Brown said. “They’re excited to get back to the semifinals again. This is the last year for our (three) seniors. I feel like everybody wants to win, no matter who the opponent is. They’re excited to get this opportunity to play again.”
The past decade for John Curtis has been one of the best in state history. The Lady Patriots, who are making their 10th straight trip to the state tournament, have won seven of their 10 state championships with two runner-up finishes.
John Curtis could move into a three-way tie for second place with 11 state titles with Jena and Southwood, with Fairview, the leader with 16 titles.
The Division I select state championship is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, which matches the Curtis-Huntington winner against the Teurlings Catholic-St. Joseph’s Academy survivor.
“This is the standard of the school,” said Brown, a four-year starter at Tulane from 2004-08. “This is about building champions for life on and off the court. Building values that are needed to be successful on and off the court. I’m just excited and thank God for the opportunity to be here with these girls.”
John Curtis, the state’s top-ranked team by MaxPreps, won 23 games against in-state competition and went 8-0 In games decided by 10 points or less. They did suffer defeat on Dec. 6 against Hoover (Ala.) High, 66-47, an out-of-state game that didn’t count against their record.
“The girls came together this season and played as a team to win,” Brown said. “They made sacrifices to do what’s best for the team, and we’ve won games because of it. Last season helped us to grow. It helped us to mature and understand that we can’t take winning for granted, that we always have to do our best no matter what.”
Senior Bailey Timmons, who has signed with UL, was one of the team’s signature players who returned this season. Timmons, capable of playing either guard position or small forward, was a second-team Class 5A All-State choice last season with a 13.3 scoring average.
She’s one of the team’s three seniors – the other two (point guard) Ke’sonja Nelson and (forward) Elaine Fagin – that have provided the veteran leadership that’s blended well with a talented group of underclassmen.
“I’m very proud of Bailey, K.K. (Nelson) and Elaine Fagin,” Brown said. “They’ve been able to lead with their seniority. Being able to know what’s expected and to help the young ones come along. I’m proud of all of these girls. It’s a team effort.
“We have days where everyone plays their part, whether that’s scoring, controlling the tempo of the game, playing defense, or setting a good screen,” Brown said. “The girls are strong in whatever is needed in different games. Everyone’s playing their role for the team.”
John Curtis’ future also looks bright with production from a group of three sophomores who were all prevalent in the team’s quarterfinal win over Captain Shreve.
Guard Jayla Albert led the Lady Patriots with 18 points, knocking down three 3-pointers, center Raven Bond added 14 points and seven rebounds, and guard Janiyah Williams added 12 points and four rebounds.
Timmons contributed 11 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
“Our girls are veterans,” said Brown, who is assisted by Sadie Branch, Jane Wright, and Jerkaila Jordan. “They’ve been playing together for a long time. Our coaching staff’s been together for a long time, and they all know what to do. There’s not as much teaching and more execution that counts in these big games. It’s really a blessing to coach these girls. It’s very balanced, and they’re willing to sacrifice themselves for what’s best for the team.”
Brown didn’t put together a schedule for her team to go undefeated. Instead, she challenged them from the outset, with the intent of preparing them for the long haul.
“The girls have worked hard,” Brown said. “We expect to do our best, and we have to stay humble. Every day they come to work at practice. They have it on their minds to get better each day.”
John Curtis has defeated four reigning state champions, with one of those teams – Wossman – still in contention to win the Division II non-select state championship. Another state runner-up remains alive for a state crown as well.
The Lady Patriots opened the season on Nov. 17 with a 57-53 victory over Madison Prep, which played in the Division II select semifinal on Thursday.
There were back-to-back wins over defending Class B state champion Fairview (81-53) and Prairieville, a Division I non-select semifinalist.
John Curtis stopped Oak Grove and one of the nation’s top centers, Caroline Bradley, 49-41 on Dec. 12 and traveled for a 37-35 win over Lafayette Christian, a Division III select power, before returning home for a 52-49 win over Wossman, which has won the last four Division II non-select state crowns.
The Lady Patriots also defeated reigning Division I non-select state champion Zachary (50-45) and Division IV select state champion Southern Lab (49-46) over a two-week span later in the season. Both of those opponents will play in state semifinal action in their respective brackets.
John Curtis exploded toward a District 9-5A championship, winning the league by an average of 40 points per game. Their closest game was a 63-46 triumph over Karr on Jan. 29.
Among the team’s biggest constants has been the play of its defense, that’s allowed 39 points per game. The Lady Patriots held 13 opponents under 40, with seven of those scoring 20 or fewer points.
“That’s the name of the game,” Brown said. “You want to make defensive stops, and you want to get offensive possessions.
“Now we’re here, we’ve made it to the semifinals,” Brown said. “We’re not comfortable. We don’t get excited that we are here because it’s not finished yet. We know we’ve put a lot of work in for postseason play, and until then, we won’t be satisfied.”