It took an overtime, but Coach Calvin Head's Russellville Lady Panthers completed a sweep of his alma mater, Todd Central, at home Friday. The win gives the Lady Panthers a tie for second place in the district standings.
After Russellville’s Loreal Cheaney hit two free throws with 30 seconds to give her team the lead, Gabbi Poirier forced a Lady Rebel turnover. On that possession Deshala LeBlanc hit a free throw with 17 seconds to make the lead 51-49. LeBlanc then forced a Todd turnover, and Devonya Bryant hit the clinching field goal as a result, as RHS won 53-49.
Todd had led 38-35 late in regulation, but Cheaney hit two foul shots. Only a few seconds later, Bryant canned a 3-pointer to tie it at 40-40. Todd’s Alicia Salazaar put together a 3-point play to put the Lady Rebels up 43-40, but Bryant tied it on the second of two free throws with 33.5 seconds remaining in regulation
Both teams had chances to win but couldn’t get anything done, and the game went into overtime.
Lady Panther Jolanda Wells fouled out early in the extra period. Tiffany Gray had been splitting time with her in the post.
Cheaney finished with 21 points with Bryant getting 19 and LeBlanc 11. Poirier scored the only other two points.
Jayde Robinson led Coach Steven McGehee’s Lady Rebels with 18. The RHS defense held Salazaar to five points, with Addie Hendley playing a big role in shutting her down.
The win gives the Lady Panthers a 3-3 district record, the same as Franklin-Simpson’s worksheet. They will play each other in the tournament in less than two weeks. The district is to be staged at RHS’ Jim Young Gymnasium. Franklin won their two meetings during the season, but both games were close.
Todd Central managed only one victory in district action, but that one was against Coach David Clark’s F-S Lady Cats.
The top seed is two-time defending champion Logan County, which is 5-1. The only district loss Coach Finley Baird’s Lady Cougars have experienced was to Russellville a week earlier.