Taylor leads Ferriday to win

Published 12:00 am Friday, January 21, 2000

FERRIDAY, La. — Ferriday High forward Torisheka Taylor may have been playing on one good foot, but it was enough to carry the Lady Trojans to a 67-61 District 3-2A here Tuesday.

Taylor scored 16 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Lady Trojans to a 67-61 win over No. 9 McCall.

&uot;We didn’t even know if she was going to play until game time,&uot; said Ferriday coach Lisa Abron, referring to the fact that Taylor had five stitches in her left foot after stepping on glass Thursday.

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&uot;I was going to the mailbox and stepped on some glass,&uot; said Taylor, who sat on the gym floor off of her foot during breaks in action. &uot;It was really hurting, but I knew the girls needed me. Our players encouraged me and gave me a lot of strength.&uot;

Ferriday, 18-8, improved to 3-0 in District 3-2A with the win, while McCall fell to 13-8 overall and 1-1 in district.

Ferriday led McCall 15-10 after one period of play, but McCall’s Havanna Hicks hit a layup with seven seconds remaining in the second quarter to tie the game at 26-26 at halftime.

McCall jumped out to a 39-34 lead in the third quarter with 2:02 to play in the period.

The Lady Dragons led 41-36 after three periods.

A 3-point play by Taylor 1:06 into the final quarter pulled the Lady Trojans within 43-40.

Annie Hicks pulled McCall back up by six, but two free throws by Monique Jones cut the lead to 51-48.

The game was tied at 51-51; 55-55 and 59-59.

Taylor put the Lady Trojans ahead to stay at 61-59 with a basket at 49 seconds.

Jones led the Lady Trojans with 25 points.

Taylor finished with 24.

&uot;I’m just so thankful she was able to get out there,&uot; Abron said. &uot;We knew it would be tough. I’m grateful everybody came out to play.&uot;

McCall, 23-6 and 3-0 in district, was led by Oriel Oney with 22, while Tiffany Watkins added 10.

The good news in the boys game was that Ferriday high top-rated McCall to 44 points — 13 at halftime.

The bad news is that Ferriday had only 11 points at halftime and 32 at the end of the game to lose by 12.

Ferriday hit only 2 of 8 free throws in the first half.

&uot;If we would have hit our free throws, we would have been in it,&uot; said Ferriday coach James Davis.

The Trojans hit only 4 of 12 field goals in the first quarter to trail 17-9.

Ferriday, 16-8 overall and 2-1 in district, hit only one of 8 field goals in the second quarter, trailing 22-13.

&uot;We had good looks, but we couldn’t knock it down,&uot; Davis said. &uot;Our offense was patient because we didn’t want to run with them. We got the high percentage shots, but they wouldn’t fall.&uot;

Both teams struggled in the third quarter as Ferriday pulled to within 26-23. McCall held the ball the last two minutes before Ferriday’s Jackie Thomas made a steal with seven seconds remaining and converted a layup.

Donald Perry scored six of his 16 points in the final quarter to help McCall pull back ahead.

Ferriday was led by James Campbell with 12 points. Jason Scott, who fouled out with 3:15 remaining, scored eight.

Henry Guy added 11 for McCall.

Ferriday plays at Vidalia Tuesday.