RIVER RIDGE, La. — The John Curtis Lady Patriots got 30 points from post player Derreyal Youngblood as they held off a late rally to defeat the Ferriday Lady Trojans 50-35 Monday night in the regional round of the Class 2A state playoffs.

Not only was Youngblood a factor in No. 5 seed John Curtis’s win, but so was the defense it used throughout the first half that kept No. 12 seed Ferriday from getting the ball inside and forcing tough shots from the perimeter.

“We didn’t step up to the challenge. First quarter, second quarter we were cold. They played a real tight zone. They challenged us to shoot from outside,” Ferriday head coach Lisa Abron said. “We didn’t knock down the shots like we should’ve. Plus we turned the ball over several times.”

Speaking of challenges, the Lady Trojans had a big one in trying to defend the six-foot-four-inch Youngblood. At times they did as credible of a job doing just that, but she was still able to get shots to go in and ended up the game’s leading scorer.

“We did a good job containing her and she still ended up with 30,” Abron said. “I don’t know if they were intimidated by the big girl.”

John Curtis (20-10) held Ferriday to five points in each of the first three quarters and by the end of the third quarter had a 34-15 lead. The Lady Trojans cut the lead to single digits in the fourth quarter, only to have the Lady Patriots make key shots down the stretch to wind up with the 15-pont win.

“We came out very timid. We were very passive early. We dug ourselves a big hole,” Abron said. “We played better defense and forced some turnovers (in the second half). We got it down to eight, but it wasn’t enough. They kind of stalled and held it long periods of time at the end. We fought very hard toward the end.”

Jasmine Butler finished with 16 points and Chante Poole added 10 points for Ferriday, which finished its season with a 19-9 record. John Curtis will take on the winner of the Capitol-Winnfield game Thursday night in a quarterfinal round game.