James Kenan’s No. 32 Aleyah Wilson, trying to get possession of the ball to layup the ball against the tough Lady Raiders’ defense.
James Kenan’s No. 3 Gabii Outlaw, scans the floor for an open play as the Tigers set up their offense.
WARSAW — The James Kenan Lady Tigers entered the night with a (6–1), looking to continue their tradition of dominant basketball as they hosted conference rival Midway Lady Raiders (3–3). With both teams unbeaten in Swine Valley Conference play, the stage was set for a highly anticipated matchup.
First Quarter: Early Battle Ends in a Stalemate
The Lady Tigers struck first in the opening quarter with a basket from No. 32 Aleyah Wilson. Midway quickly responded with a two-point jump shot to even the score. James Kenan regained the lead with a basket by No. 1 Y’anna Rivers but the Lady Raiders answered back with a tough, contested layup.
No. 1 Y’anna Rivers of the Lady Tigers responded immediately, but Midway again evened things up with a big layup, knotting the score at 6–6. After a hard-fought opening period, the first quarter ended in a deadlock 6–6.
Second Quarter: Lady Tigers Take Control
James Kenan opened the second quarter with a basket by No. 1 Y’anna Rivers and quickly went on a run to take a 12–6 lead. Midway earned a trip to the free-throw line but struggled to capitalize.
Momentum swung firmly in favor of the Lady Tigers as No. 3 Gabii Outlaw knocked down a big three-pointer. The Lady Raiders continued to battle but couldn’t find consistency at the line. A heavily contested layup by No. 1 Y’anna Rivers extended the Tigers’ lead, followed by a free throw that made it even tougher for Midway to mount a response.
Midway finally broke the scoring drought, but another clutch three-pointer by No. 1 Y’anna Rivers shut down any comeback attempt. Despite continued effort from the Lady Raiders, James Kenan closed the half firmly in control.
Halftime Score: James Kenan Lady Tigers 26, Midway Lady Raiders 9
Halftime Recap: Defense Fuels the Lead
At the break, the Lady Tigers held a commanding 17-point advantage. Their defensive pressure proved to be the difference, forcing turnovers and limiting Midway’s scoring opportunities.
Leading the way for James Kenan was No. 1 Y’anna Rivers with 12 points, scoring from all areas of the court. No. 3 Gabii Outlaw and No. 32 Aleyah Wilson contributed six points each to round out the scoresheet. Midway continued to fight but struggled with shooting, managing just nine points in the first half. Both teams looked to come out of the locker room with renewed energy.
Third Quarter: Tigers Extend the Gap
James Kenan wasted no time in the third quarter, opening with another basket by No. 1 Y’anna Rivers in the paint. A big steal by No. 3 Gabii Outlaw led to a fast-break basket, followed by yet another three-pointer that pushed the Tigers’ lead to 35–9.
Midway finally answered with a three-pointer of their own, but the Lady Tigers responded immediately. A layup by No. 13 LaBria McGowan and a steal-and-score by No. 1 Y’anna Rivers kept the momentum firmly on James Kenan’s side. Midway earned free throws late in the quarter but couldn’t convert. The third quarter ended with the Lady Tigers firmly in control.
Fourth Quarter: Finishing Strong
Both teams searched for early points in the final quarter until No. 5 Zaniya Brown of James Kenan drained a big three-pointer. Midway answered at the free-throw line, converting one shot, and later added a three-pointer in an attempt to spark a comeback.
Any remaining hope was quickly erased when the Lady Tigers hit another three-pointer. With time running out, Midway couldn’t close the gap. James Kenan controlled the remainder of the game and sealed a decisive conference victory.
Final Score: James Kenan Lady Tigers 53, Midway Lady Raiders 21
