Duncanville returns to state title game after dethroning champion Converse Judson
LaJenna Howard was hired on at Duncanville last April, replacing Cathy Self-Morgan.
A new coach, but not really.
Howard won a UIL state title as a player at Duncanville and then again as an assistant coach for the Pantherettes. Now she’s a win away from winning one as a head coach with the program.
The top-ranked Pantherettes got key contributions late when their 5-star All-American and North Carolina bound guard Deja Kelly was in foul trouble to knock off 6A defending champ Converse Judson, 45-36 in a semifinal game on Friday at the Alamodome.
Duncanville (39-3) will face Cypress Creek (41-0) at 8:30 pm Saturday.
“It was a total team effort,” Howard said. “We had to get scoring from everybody and take a collective effort on defense. Everyone knows our strength is defense. We didn’t score a whole lot, but to hold a team to 36 points, I enjoyed that.”
Kelly scored 11 points as Duncanville got out to a 29-19 halftime lead. Back-to-back jumpers gave the Pantherettes a 6-0 and 8-2 lead with 4:17 left in the first quarter.
Teanna Huggins pulled Judson within 22-19, but Duncanville scored the next seven points in the final three minutes of the second quarter to grab a 10-point lead.
Zaria Rufus, who had a game-high 10 rebounds, hit a jumper with 37 seconds left to make it 29-19.
Judson (33-9) won the third quarter 11-8 to pull within seven entering the fourth. Kierra Sanderlin, who led the team with 18 points and nine rebounds, cut the deficit to four with 5:36 left.
Then Kelly was hit with her fourth personal foul at the 4:41 mark.
However, both teams struggled offensively with a near 2 1/2 minute scoring drought. Duncanville got a big bucket by Hope LaMelle and two clutch free throws by freshman Tristen Taylor to go up nine with 1:34 remaining.
“Tristen came up big time. To step up and make two free throws as a freshman, it was amazing,” Howard said. “She’s easy mannered and never flustered. Even if she makes a mistake, the next play she’s back at 100%.”
LaMelle and Taylor added nine and seven points for the Pantherettes.
Duncanville, which is making the trip to state for the 26th time (3rd most in Texas), will be looking for its first state championship since winning back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.
“Hope LaMelle was fantastic. She’s undersized, but plays with a lot of heart. She made some key baskets and defensively, she rebounded, doubled teamed, did a lot of things for us,” Howard said. “It’s anybody’s night. It’s a team sport and we believe in team basketball at Duncanville.”
This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 12:05 AM.
