SPORTS

Lady Green Devils close out 8-3A play with runner-up honors, 6-2 mark

Deidre Cruse, Governmental Reporter

GAME WINNER…Plaquemine High’s Kadijah Mims hit a pair of free throws with no time left on the clock to beat Port Allen on the road early last week in a key 8-3A game. PHS won again Friday night, beating Brusly, to move to 6-2 in league play.

Plaquemine High’s Lady Green Devils claimed runner-up honors in the District 8-3A basketball race last week with a pair of victories, closing out league play with a 6-2 mark.

Coach Cormanda Grace-Green’s PHS girls rapped up yet another banner regular season with an outstanding 19-8 record and began over the weekend preparing for the state of the 3-A hoop playoffs. The only team to triumph over the PHS girls in league play was undefeated and high-ranked repeat district champ St. James High, which pinned both 8-3A losses on the locals.

PHS downed Brusly High with little trouble Friday night, taking a 41-28 victory. It was a much clearer victory than the two teams’ meeting in Brusly in the first round when PHS had to go into overtime to claim the victory.

Like their trip to Brusly, the Lady Green Devils struggled on the road earlier in the week, but came home a winner against hosting Port Allen High. It took a pair of free throws by Kadijah Mims with no time showing on the clock to ice a narrow 42-39 PHS victory. Mims was fouled on a three-point shot attempt.

PHS 41, BRUSLY 28:

The hosting Lady Devils fell behind by a narrow 15-13 count at the end of the first half, but came out of the locker room with determination. PHS rolled up a 15-3 run in the third period to ice down their sixth league win. Brusly challenged in the final period, but PHS added three more points to their victory margin.

Mims and Amber Smith led the way for PHS. Mims bagged a team-high 12 points, while Smith meshed in 11. Brianna Arnold netted 9, while Myeisha Bell, Ashley Smith, Janira Russ, and Andrenna Marshall combined for 11 more PHS markers.

PHS 42, PAHS 39:

The hosting Lady Pelicans took scoring margins in the first and fourth period, while Plaquemine gained ground with margins of 13-7 and 13-9 in the middle periods. However, it took Mims’ free throws at the very end of the game to win it for the parish club. Her first free throw hit won the game. She bagged two of her three free throws at the end.

Amber Smith paced the PHS scoring effort overall with 14 points and some key drives to the hoop. Brianna Arnold joined Smith in using her quickness to drive for big baskets. The PHS point guard finished with 11 points. Mims closed with 8 points, while Bell tallied 4. Russ, Brittany Arnold, and Marshall hit for 2 apiece.