By Sedrick Bolton III December 13, 2022
HAMPTON With two teams who are ranked top five in GHSA Girls AAAAAA basketball rankings, it could only mean the game would come down to the last possession. Down by two with 10.6 seconds left, Lovejoy misses the go-ahead three and falls to Forest Park 58-56.
Lady Wildcats senior La'Nya Foster (17 points) gave her team their first lead since 2-0 in the first with the 51-49 score. But Lady Panthers senior Jayda Brown (23 points) answered back with back-to-back buckets, but following her second basket she clutched at her left shoulder and exits the game.
With 1:39 left in the fourth, Brown returns to the game and she finds junior Yasmine Allen (15 points) for the three that sunk the hearts of the Lady Wildcat fans as Forest Park led 56-51.
But Lady Wildcats junior Bryanna Preston (17 points) kept the game alive by answering back with a three of her own. After the Lady Panthers turn the ball over, Foster hits the one-dribble pull up to tie the game at 56.
On the ensuing inbound play, Forest Park pushed the ball down the court and freshman Mikayla Dunston dimes it to center Makayla Arnold to take the lead.
With 10.6 on the game clock, Lovejoy gives it to Preston and lets her work out. She created a quality look from downtown with the pound-dribble pull up, but the ball goes in-and-out. The Lady Panthers secure the rebound and hold to get the victory.
Per Sandy's Spiel, Lovejoy came in ranked third in the state's AAAAAA for girls basketball and Forest Park ranked fourth. The boast similar records and a winning streak that only one could continue.
The game was evenly matched with both clubs in the first half, scoring back-and-forth without no one taking a clear cut lead. But the Lady Panthers had the slight edge, leading 30-24 at the half.
Forest Park went on a quick 8-2 run to get the largest lead of the night with a 12-point advantage. As the quarter progressed, the Lady Wildcats found a rhythm as the quarter progressed, knocking down three triples in the period to cut the deficit to five as they entered the fourth.
Lovejoy falls to 7-3 and Forest Park improves to 8-1, but they will meet again January 20 at Forest Park.
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