Clark Beaten In Final Minutes
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The final two minutes became crucially problematic for the J.S. Clark Leadership Academy girls basketball team Wednesday afternoon in a state tournament semifinal played at the University Center in Hammond.
Clark dramatically allowed a chance for a second straight state title slip away as Cedar Creek Academy executed a Caroline James three-point play with 1.4 seconds remaining to defeat the Bulldogs 47-44 in the Division IV-select contest.
The win enabled Cedar Creek to advance to a championship matchup against top-seeded Southern Lab, which beat No. 2 Ouachita Christian in the other semifinal game.
Clark, seeded No. 3, ended the season 24-9.
The Bulldogs, who won the Class B title last year and reached the Class B championship game in 2023, trailed by as many as 12 points in the second quarter against the Cougars on Wednesday.
However Clark remained in position to win the game with a 44-41 lead with two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Cedar Creek’s Avery Ryan cut that Bulldogs’ advantage to one point (44-43) with a minute left when Ryan squeezed through traffic to make a layup.
Then following a Clark turnover, Ryan tied the game at 44 after making one of two free throws with 27 seconds left.
Cedar Creek, which had possession at the end following a missed Clark shot, moved the ball down the floor and James made a layup after an assist to put the Cougars in front (46-44). James, who was fouled on her attempt, made the final point on a free throw.
The Bulldogs were outrebounded and outshot by Cedar Creek.
Clark made 31.1 percent of the shooting attempts, while from 3-point range, the Bulldogs made only 3-of-16 attempts.
Cedar Creek meanwhile sank 36 percent. The Cougars were also 9-of-16 from the free throw line, while Clark made three of six attempts.
Bulldogs’ guard Taylor Barnaba scored 11 points, while forward Tristinie Albert had 10.
Rebounding leaders for Clark were Jailee Edwards (8) and Akeelah Williams (7).
Ryan (15 points) was the scoring and rebounding leader (19( for Cedar Creek. Alvia Lee pulled down 12 rebounds and scored 10.
Clark led 28-25 at halftime, but the Bulldogs were outscored 11-7 in the final period.
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