LHSAA Girls Select Basketball Championships – Wednesday Results
by Hunter Bower // GeauxPreps.com Owner
A special thanks to LGR Basketball for their assistance with providing content and information throughout the day. Please visit the LGR Basketball website for more information on girls basketball rankings, events and more!
LAKE CHARLES – The LHSAA Girls Select Basketball Championships wrapped up semifinal round action Wednesday as four more teams punched their tickets to the finals.
In the first game on the day, No. 1 Lafayette Christian dominated St. Thomas Aquinas, 72-17, to earn its sixth straight trip into the championship game. The Lady Knights were led by Jada Richard’s 22 point effort while Indeara Hebert and Monae Duffy also finished in double-figure scoring.
A win in the championship round would give LCA its fifth state title in six seasons.
On the other side of the Division III bracket, No. 2 Episcopal punched its ticket to the state title game for the first time in school history with a 50-30 win over Newman.
The Lady Knights led by just one point at halftime but used defensive pressure to stifle Newman’s offense, outscoring the Greenies 28-9 in the second half.
Anaya Yunusah registered 11 points while grabbing 13 boards to help lead Newman to victory while Episcopal’s Izzy Besselman led the game with 27 points.
The drive for six consecutive state titles stayed alive Wednesday night as top-seeded John Curtis held off Scotlandville, 49-42, to advance to the Division I state title game.
The Lady Patriots have advanced to the championship round each season since 2017 and has yet to lose in the span.
Curtis received double-scoring efforts from three different players led by Terren Coffil who scored 15 points and added eight rebounds. Scotlandville’s Kamiera McDonald led the game with 23 points and also recorded six rebounds and three assists.
In the final game of the evening, No. 3 McKinley defeated St. Joseph’s Academy, 64-58, to set up a 2017 and 2018 title game rematch with John Curtis.
The Lady Panthers received an outstanding performance from sophomore Ty’Reona Sibley who finished the game with 23 points and 29 rebounds. Gabrielle Lathers also finished in double-scoring for McKinley with 14 points.
The state championship games begin Thursday with Divisions II, IV and V while Divisions I and III conclude the tournament on Friday.
THURSDAY:
Division IV State Championship
No. 2 Cedar Creek vs. No. 5 Southern Lab, 2:30 p.m.
Division II State Championship
No. 1 St. Louis Catholic vs. No. 3 St. Thomas More, 5:15 p.m.
Division V State Championship
No. 2 Claiborne Christian vs. No. 4 St. Joseph’s-Plaucheville, 8 p.m.
FRIDAY:
Division III State Championship
No. 1 Lafayette Christian vs. No. 2 Episcopal, 4:30 p.m.
Division I State Championship
No. 1 John Curtis vs. No. 3 McKinley, 7:15 p.m.