For the girls the playoffs have started not so much with a bang as with a whimper.
The seventh seeded Lady Hornets played host to Beekman Charter, a district foe that Rayville vanquished easily in two district games and seeded 26. You would not have known it by the play in the first quarter. The girls came out tight and suffered through the worst first quarter of the year with eight only points.
Despite a horrendous pre-district schedule, the Rayville Lady Hornets (10-9) captured a few prize pelts for their belts in wins over Wossman, Carroll, Neville and a split with the 5A powerhouse Ouachita.
It served them well, for they have breezed through six district games by an average difference of 33 points a game. And this is without two stalwart starters Shamari Franklin and Emonni Baker who were injured in the win over Ouachita on Dec. 23. So far they have not returned.
Two more games, two more wins.
Mangham 102-48. Delhi Charter 89-53.
For the second consecutive seasons, the Hornets played havoc in district winning on the average by about 40 points a game. Mangham played tough in the first quarter trailing by only one 20-19 on the strength of Harrison’s three threes (he had five in the game) only to be down 48-30 at the half.
The number two team in the district came into Rayville seeking revenge for a loss in their gym earlier this season.
They didn’t get it from the number one seed in Louisiana. It didn’t take long to determine that they wouldn’t as the Hornets raced out to a 30-14 lead in the first quarter on the way to a 109-69 Hornet win.
Their percentage wasn’t particularly good but seven different Hornets hit a three. Nashaun Ellis had four, Rashad Naylor three, Mylik Wilson two, JaMichael Wilson, Jalen Qualls, Christopher Jones and Zyquarcus Cowart all had one.
After another breeze at Beekman Charter (64-19) the Lady Hornets returned home to host probably the last threat to their undefeated district season by the number four ranked Ferriday Bulldogs.
Because of a tough predistrict schedule, the Lady Hornets have only garnered a thirteenth position even though they beat the Lady Dogs by five points in Ferriday.
Not so close this time as the Lady Hornets jumped out to a 23-9 first quarter score and they increased the lead by 21 at the half, 39-18.
603 Louisa Street
Rayville, LA 71269
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