FERRIDAY — Jasmine Upchurch scored 26 points for the Ferriday High girls’ basketball team Monday night, but the last two were the most important.

The Lady Trojans barely squeaked by Westminster Christian of Opelousas, La., 64-63 in the second round of the LHSAA Class 2A playoffs.

With less than 20 seconds left on the clock, Upchurch went to the free throw line and made both shots, giving the Lady Trojans a 64-60 lead.

It’s a good thing she didn’t miss one, because Crusader Abby Oliver sunk a long 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left to bring Westminster within one point, and Ferriday turned the ball over with 3 seconds left.

But Oliver’s next attempt from behind the arc was rushed and the Lady Trojans came away with the win.

“That was a good Westminster team, and they never gave up,” Ferriday coach Lisa Abron said. “That’s what I was trying to get out of my girls tonight — you can’t give up at this level of play. Luck was on our side tonight, that’s all I can say.”

Despite the win, Abron said she was displeased with the Lady Trojans’ performance Monday night.

Ferriday was down 29-19 at the half and lacked intensity through most of the game. The Lady Trojans also had 16 turnovers.

“It almost cost us the game,” Abron said. “At this level of play you shouldn’t be turning the ball over as much as we did.

“Those turnovers kept them in the game. Every time we’d turn it over, they’d score off that.”

After a 14-12 first quarter, Westminster completely took over the first half, stealing the ball right out of the Lady Trojans’ hands and knocking down shot after shot, including four 3-pointers in the second quarter and a bucket with .3 seconds left on the clock.

The Trojans appeared to find a spark of life at the opening of the third quarter, putting up 5 quick points and getting within 4 of the Crusaders.

Westminster then scored on five straight possessions, but Ferriday stayed close as Upchurch dominated inside and Chanta Poole, who finished with 12 points, drove the lane.

The Lady Trojans scored 23 points to take the lead at the end of the third quarter 42-41.

The two teams went back and forth in the last eight minutes of regulation, but Upchurch’s last-second shot under the basket wouldn’t fall to send the game to overtime.

Abrons said it looked like her team thought it was already beat.

“I guess we found some fight somewhere, and it worked out for us in the end. I don’t know if it was just nerves, but we’ve got to get it together for the third round.

“The competition is just getting better each game. I guess we’re going to have to prepare ourselves better in the beginning.”

Jasmine Butler finished with 17 points for Ferriday. Oliver and Jasmine King each had 24 for Westminster, and Oliver made six 3-pointers.