Lady Trojans can clinch tie for playoff spot

Published 12:00 am Monday, March 1, 2004

Every game has literally been a learning experience for the Ferriday Lady Trojans.

And so far there have been plenty of lessons learned. But right now there are still others to be learned, including playing with a goal of making the playoffs in mind heading into their final week of the regular season.

Can’t say that it wasn’t expected, but this year’s Lady Trojan team had to undergo a major rebuilding phase after last year’s 32-1 campaign. Right now, however, a win over Vidalia Tuesday would clinch at least a tie for the No. 3 spot out of District 4-2A.

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&uot;The way it looks now, that’s what we’re shooting for &045; a third-place spot,&uot; Ferriday head coach Lisa Abron said. &uot;It seems there’s going to be a tie between us and Crowville. It’s been a good learning experience for all of them. With time, I think they’ll grow and get better. (A tie) is not a situation you would want to be in, but if that’s what we have to do, we’ll do it.&uot;

The team has quietly made small improvements over the season, but the Lady Trojans got a real shot in the arm two weeks ago with a win at Crowville over a team that handed them a 76-55 win at Ferriday.

Keisha Jones hit 39 in that game, and she had a big game in the rematch. But the Lady Trojans counted Crowville with better defense and took the win to split the season series.

&uot;That was a big boost,&uot; Abron said. &uot;We’ve been out-matched. Lake Providence has their big girls, and Crowville has their big girl. We’ve never been blessed with that big post player, but we’ve always made up for it with our quickness. It’s kind of hard to contain (Jones), but our game plan was to make the other girls score more than she would. I think that game was the one that got us over the hump.&uot;

Although the Lady Trojans didn’t win Friday against Lake Providence, the score was different enough to indicate improvement. Lake Providence took a 61-57 win after handling the Lady Trojans 72-56 in the first meeting.

But the Lady Trojans had the game in their hands late in the game, and that’s just part of the learning curve this year.

&uot;It’s just inexperience,&uot; Abron said. &uot;We’ve got this young team, and they’re going to have to learn. It was tied up. We turned the ball over twice in two minutes, and Lake Providence scored both times. If we would have won that game, we could come in second and wouldn’t have to be in the situation we’re in.

&uot;But I think that opened their eyes up a little bit. We almost pulled it out.&uot;

MPSA POSTSEASON &045; South State tournaments in MPSA get rolling today, and Huntington’s girls and Trinity Episcopal’s girls tip off today up at Greenville Christian.

The Lady Saints, who lost to Tensas Academy in the District 7-A tournament championship Saturday, will face defending Overall champion Riverdale at 7 p.m. today.

The Lady Hounds enter as the third-place team from District 7 and will face Central School at 4 p.m.