Lady Tiger Gabriel Outlaw lands a 3-ball from the baseline during Tuesday’s game against the Lady Stallions. (Robert Taylor|mountolivetribune.com)
James Kenan’s Y’anna Rivers makes a layup during Tuesday night’s game against Southwest Onslow. (Robert Taylor|mountolivetribune.com)
Y’anna Rivers faces a double-team of Lady Stallions in the paint as she heads in for a layup attempt. (Robert Taylor|mountolivetribune.com)
WARSAW — The James Kenan girls’ varsity basketball team put up a valiant fight against the visiting Southwest Onslow Stallions but ultimately fell short in a hard-fought contest, 39-34. Despite a strong defensive effort and key plays from several players, the Tigers were unable to close the gap late in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers, now 8-7 overall and 6-5 in the 2A East Central Conference (currently in fourth place), have shown steady improvement throughout the season. Tuesday’s game highlighted both the team’s potential and resilience, even in challenging circumstances.
James Kenan opened the game with a burst of energy. A quick steal by Janay Rouse set the tone for the Tigers, and moments later, they got on the board first with a fast-break layup. Y’anna Rivers followed up by sinking one of two free throws to give the Tigers an early 3-0 lead. However, Southwest Onslow responded with a steal and layup, quickly cutting the lead to 4-2.
The Tigers’ defense, led by Shamya Johnson and Aleyah Wilson, made it difficult for the Stallions to find open looks. Wilson scored a pair of baskets inside, keeping James Kenan close at 7-5. Still, turnovers began to pile up for the Tigers, giving the Stallions several second-chance opportunities. By the end of the first quarter, Southwest Onslow had capitalized on James Kenan’s mistakes and extended their lead to 12-6.
Determined to get back into the game, the Tigers came out strong in the second quarter. Rivers attacked the basket early, scoring a layup to cut the deficit to 12-8. Gabriel Outlaw provided a spark with her defensive tenacity, coming up with two key steals.
After a few missed shots from the perimeter, Wilson converted an and-one play with a tough layup, bringing the score to 14-11. Kendria Smith found her rhythm shortly after, knocking down a three to tie the game at 14-14. The Stallions answered with a three of their own and followed it up with a layup to take a 19-16 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw both teams trading baskets and tightening up defensively. Wilson continued to dominate in the paint, scoring back-to-back layups to bring the Tigers within one at 19-20. Rivers added another basket, giving James Kenan a brief lead at 21-20, but the Stallions quickly called a timeout to regroup.
Following the timeout, Southwest Onslow executed a series of well-orchestrated plays, regaining the lead and stretching it to 25-22. A well-timed pass from Johnson to Wilson resulted in another layup, keeping the Tigers within striking distance at 25-24. Outlaw buried a three late in the quarter to make it 27-26, but the Stallions closed the period with a couple of key free throws to extend their lead to 30-26.
The final quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams playing aggressive defense. Wilson opened the quarter with a layup, cutting the deficit to two at 30-28. Moments later, Smith made a crucial steal and scored to tie the game at 30-30.
The Stallions answered with a quick layup and held onto a narrow lead. Smith and Johnson each came up with big steals, but the Tigers couldn’t convert those opportunities into points. Wilson hit a clutch three-pointer to bring James Kenan back within two at 34-32 with under two minutes left.
However, with time running out, the Stallions capitalized on a few late-game free throws and defensive stops. The Tigers had several chances to tie the game but couldn’t find the mark. Southwest Onslow sealed the game with a pair of free throws in the final seconds, securing the 39-34 victory.
“We played hard, as we always do,” said James Kenan head coach Aaron Smith. “Some of our players were sick, and we had a lot stacked against us, but there are no excuses. Southwest Onslow has a solid point guard, and they made key plays when they needed to.”
Smith praised the performance of Wilson, who led the Tigers offensively and kept them in the game with her consistent scoring. “Aleyah worked hard all night. She really gave us a chance to stay in it,” Smith said.
With only two seniors on the roster, the Tigers are a young team with plenty of room for growth. Freshmen players have been instrumental in the team’s development this season, and Coach Smith is excited about the team’s future. “We’re young, but we’ve got a lot of potential. I’m very pleased with the progress we’re making.”
Despite the loss, the Tigers remain in a strong position in the 2A East Central Conference. As the season progresses, they’ll look to build on the lessons learned in this game and continue improving.
