Five-star guard, former Pantherette help bring 11th state championship to Duncanville

Deja Kelly had accomplished plenty in her high school career; McDonald’s All-American, Gatorade Texas player of the year and a scholarship to a Division I program.

However, the 5-star senior guard was missing that one exclusive feat: a state championship.

In her final high school game, the Pantherettes made sure Kelly got her ring.

Kelly scored 23 points and was voted title game MVP as Duncanville handed Houston Cypress Creek its first loss of the season, 63-47, in the Class 6A state championship game on Saturday at the Alamodome.

“This accomplishment tops all of them,” said Kelly, who grew up in San Antonio. “It’s a different kind of feeling to bring back this championship to the city of champs. It’s truly special and to win it in my hometown, it’s definitely one I’ll remember.”

Duncanville (40-3) captured its 11th state title (third most in UIL girls basketball history). It was the Pantherettes’ 26th appearance at the state tournament.

“My family is deep here and to win it in my hometown, it’s something I dreamed about since I was a little girl, to play in this Alamodome and win a state championship,” said Kelly, who shot 12 of 15 at the free-throw line. “It means everything. This group of girls is the best team I’ve played with.

“Those girls are amazing and they’ll do great things once I leave; this one’s special.”

Duncanville hired former Pantherette LaJenna Howard in April. She’s now won titles as a head coach, player (2003) and assistant coach (2016).

“We did it for her as well. She made history, winning it at all three levels, that’s amazing and I’m happy we could get it for her,” Kelly said.

“It’s a totally different drive. Being able to push the girls everyday and motivate them, we started to tell them, ‘we can do this, we can do this,’ and one day it clicked and they believed,” Howard added.

The Cougars (41-1) started strong. Junior guard Kyndall Hunter came out of the gate with seven of Creek’s first nine points. Hunter finished with 24 points after a 31-point performance in the semifinals.

A long 3-pointer by Hunter upped the Cougars lead to 9-5 with 4:09 left in the first quarter, but Duncanville answered. A Kelly three and another 2-pointer put the Pantherettes up 10-9 with 3:18 left in the opening quarter. It started a 9-0 run for a 14-9 lead after one.

Duncanville never trailed again and controlled the rest of the game.

“Duncanville defense has been strong throughout the years,” Howard said. “We had to make sure we got that back on point and when we did that, we were able to bring us back here at the state tournament and win.”

Without two of its best players out of the lineup due to disciplinary reasons, Cy Creek just didn’t have enough weapons to handle Duncanville’s relentlessness on both offense and defense.

”Our kids fought like everything,” said Cypress Creek coach Jennifer Alexander. “I’m so proud of them. We were a little bit short handed, but I’m proud of the way they came out with the first punch, gave the first blow, however down the stretch we wore down a little bit.”

Star junior guard Rori Harmon and sophomore Trinity Santasiero were not on the bench due to disciplinary reasons, but even with the duo, it might not have mattered.

Duncanville controlled the game, building a 10-point lead at the half. The Pantherettes’ biggest lead was 61-42 after a Zaria Rufus layup with 1:24 left in the game.

”They just get after you for 32 minutes non stop,” added Alexander. “Their pressure can wear you down on both sides of the ball. They’re a great team with a lot of tradition.

”Our kids had opportunities and we had too many turnovers, but a lot of that was due to their pressure which is a credit to them.”

Rufus had 12 points and team-high eight rebounds for Duncanville and freshman Tristen Taylor added 13 points. Taylor was masterful at handling the ball at point guard for the Pantherettes.

“That one was for my mother. To finish it with Duncanville, it’s amazing,” said Howard, whose mother passed away in September of 2018. “When I started my journey into being a head coach, she said ‘put into your girls the same passion you have and if you do that, they’ll be the best women in the world.’”