Clark Defeated In Finale
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
With a combined eight appearances in separate girls’ state basketball championship games, J.S. Clark Leadership Academy and Southern Lab weren’t intimidated by their environment at the University Center on Saturday afternoon.
In a game dominated by defense and scoring binges, Southern Lab captured a third straight state title with a 43-38 victory over a group of Clark players that have been to state championship games three times in four years.
Second-seeded Clark ended the season 27-6, while Southern Lab improved to 28-5.
Clark received 12 points from guard Jailee Edwards, who also provided eight rebounds and three steals.
Edwards, who finished the state tournament with 25 points in two contests, was complemented by forwards Hailey Robins, (nine rebounds) and Akeelah Williams (nine points, three rebounds).
First-year girls’ head basketball coach Dewaskie Fuller said afterward that his players were prepared to challenge top-seeded Southern Lab, which grabbed a third consecutive state title.
“Southern Lab was considered to be the team to beat all season and I thought we had our girls well-prepared. That’s why we were able to give them everything that we had,” Fuller said following the contest.
The Kittens started the game with a 10-0 run in the first quarter.
However the Bulldogs responded later with scoring of their own, as they scored 17 unchallenged points to cut the lead to 26-22 at the intermission.
Southern Lab launched its own 17-0 run in the second half and led 28-26 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Fuller said he was certain that his players would respond to the challenge.
“I knew that we could play with them and my players did not disappoint me,” Fuller added.
Clark reached the state tournament in two classifications beginning 2023.
The Bulldogs, who were competing in a fourth straight state tournament, won a state title in 2024.
