Albert Shines For Clark
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Tristanie Albert injected a dose of consistency into a sputtering J.S. Clark Leadership Academy half court offense, as she helped the Bulldogs capture a second-straight St. Landry Parish girls Basketball Tournament championship.
Albert, a junior guard, scored 15 of Bulldogs’ 30 second half points as No.1 seed Clark defeated Opelousas High 53-24 in the title game played before a near capacity crowd at tournament host North Central High.
Clark experienced a ragged shooting experience during the first two periods, missing a number of open shooting attempts.
That changed later in the game as the ball went to Albert.
During the final two periods, it was Albert who took over, scoring all but three of her game-high 18 points in the last 16 minutes.
Clark led 23-14 at halftime, a scoring advantage assisted by an Opelousas offense that committed 10 first half turnovers.
The turnover problem for the Tigers only worsened in the second half. Opelousas was called for 16 turnovers, as Albert’s scoring drives to the basket contributed to the momentum,
Albert scored the first points of the second half on easy layups off two OHS turnovers.
Then in the fourth period, Albert ended her offensive dominance with a 10-point performance.
Opelousas, which scored only two second half field goal – a trey from Saniya Morris and four free throw points – never could generate any efficiency during the final 12 minutes.
The Bulldogs led 23-14 at the intermission and crafted a 14-point second quarter lead (21-7) with 5:03 left.
Opelousas executed a coordinated scoring run just before halftime as Kenna Newman dropped in a three-point shot and Mi Amor McQueen made consecutive field goals,
Guard Taylor Barnaba scored 10 points for the Bulldogs. Barnaba had eight points off 11 free throw attempts.
McQueen finished with seven points for the Tigers, who sank seven of 11 free throws.
