Ferriday boys, girls get past Lakeside

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, February 6, 2013

FERRIDAY — The Ferriday High School boys basketball team fended off some déjà vu to secure a win against Lakeside High School Tuesday.

After taking an eight-point lead into the second half of play, the Trojans watched as the Warriors cut it to 35-33 at the end of the third.

But Ferriday went on an 8-0 run from the 3:39 mark to 1:16 left in the fourth to secure a 56-46 win. For head coach K.G. Watkins, it was a familiar problem with a good ending.

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“That’s been our Achilles heel — we let teams come back in the third,” Watkins said. “Tonight we overcame it for some reason. We had every team in our district down at the half, and we come out and make too many unforced errors.”

A pair of three-pointers by Lakeside’s Davion Whiting in the third period propelled the Warriors as they scored 14 points while limiting the Trojans to just eight. But Ferriday kept Lakeside at bay in the fourth, holding the Warriors to 13 points while tallying 21 to make the game a little more comfortable.

“We were getting confused and stuck on the play,” sophomore DaJohn Mitchell said. “Coach told us we were playing like we had won, and he told us to finish playing.”

The Trojans’ Brandon Scott led in scoring with 16 points, and Trey Hall added 11 points. Mitchell finished with 10.

Overall, Watkins said he was pleased with the way his team played considering that he used many of his younger players most of the night.

“I let my seniors sit more,” Watkins said. “I wanted to see how the (younger)kids would do. We’re not giving up on the season, but we’re still going to need that experience for next year.”

Ferriday rose to 7-14 overall, 3-5 in district play.

Ferriday girls 47, Lakeside 46

After missing the first free throw, the pressure was on Jasz Davis even more with the second shot.

With the game tied 46-46 and less than a second remaining on the clock, Davis said she knew it was now or never.

“There was a lot of pressure, but I just settled down, took a deep breath and said, ‘The game is on you,’ and shot the ball,” Davis said.

And the Ferriday High School gymnasium erupted as the second free throw went through the bucket, securing the win for the Ferriday girls.

“It felt great,” Davis said. “I was happy, the team was happy and the crowd went crazy.”

Davis had missed a layup as time was running out, but she secured the rebound and was fouled, sending her to the line.

“It was huge for her, because she never gets the offensive boards,” Lady Trojans head coach Lisa Abron said. “That was big-time for her tonight.”

Ferriday had a 15-12 lead after one quarter, but the Lady Trojans only scored four points in the second and trailed 28-19 at intermission. After keeping pace with Lakeside in the third, Ferriday limited the Lady Warriors to four points in the fourth to get the comeback win.

“We had a few mishaps in the second quarter and managed to fight and get back,” Abron said.

Jada Griggs scored 20 points for Ferriday, and Shakeria Kelly had 19 points.

Ferriday (6-17, 3-6) will host Jonesboro-Hodge Friday.