After surpassing their point of exit from last years playoffs, the Lady Gators were ready for their round two matchup with a home game against the 13-seeded South Plaquamine Lady Canes. The game started with Saniyah Marshall getting fouled on her shot and her capitalizing on her first free throw. Marshall missed the second, but Janaiya Fisher rebounded and put it back up for two. On the Canes first possession, the Lakeview defense was so good they forced the opposition to throw the ball away and force a turnover. South Plaq’s next possession saw Jameisha Fisher with the steal and easy layup on the other end. South Plaq scored their first point after knocking down a free throw.
Lakeview got in foul trouble fast, as three of their starters got two fouls and were pulled from the game. Timberly Washington got the game back on track as she got a steal and a fast break layup. Though the bench players came in early, they delivered. Shari Smith drove to the hoop for a strong armed layup on a Lady Gator possession. Then, Shakayla Browder was fouled on a shot and sunk both free throws.
South Plaq controlled the majority of the rest of the quarter. Though they only scored six points in the last couple minutes, the momentum had swung their way. That was until Smith drove to the hoop to get a layup to fall right at the buzzer. Lakeview led 15-7.
The first points of the second came when South Plaq was fouled by Washington, her third. She watched the action from the sidelines the remainder of the first half. After South Plaq made their first free throw, the second rimmed out and they got the rebound, but Zenobia Poydras snatched the ball from the South Plaq player’s hands and threw an outlet pass to Janaiya Fisher. Fisher made the steal good as she was waiting down the court for an easy two. Shakayla Browder was the next to score for Lakeview, two for two at the line.
Janaiya Fisher made a contested fast break layup with the defense draped all over her. Marshall went to work in the post for a powerful field goal, followed by the Canes getting some second chance points to fall. It was immediately countered by Trinity Browder doing the same for Lakeview. Marshall got a rebound after a Cane miss and threw a great outlet pass for another easy layup by Janaiya. Browder brought out her strong side as she backed down her defender in the post on the next play for her sixth points of the night.
The Canes sunk a free throw before Jameisha hit a step back three from the top of the arch at the buzzer to give Lakeview a 32-13 lead at halftime. The third quarter was insane for the Lady Gators.They outscored South Plaq 26-10, too much for the 12 seed to recover. Lakeview walk away the victors 69-35.
This was their sixth 20-point win in their last 10 games. Now there is one last battle standing between them and the Top 28, Avoyelles Public Charter. Everyone watching knew these teams were going to face each other. Thankfully Lakeview has the home court advantage over the 5-seed Thursday. If the Lady Gators make it past this team, they get to hang their second Top 28 banner in the Swamp. It’s definitely going to be one of the best games Lakeview has played all season.
