MAMOU – In one of the most valiant efforts of the year, the Mamou Lady Demons erased a nine-point deficit at the end of the third quarter and cut the lead down to one point with three minutes left to go, only to fall just short in a 48-44 loss to the Crowley Ladies Monday night.
With the loss, the Lady Demons dropped to 9-15 on the year and 6-7 in District 5-3A. Mamou is basically secured a playoff spot, coming in at No. 26 in the latest Class 3A power ranking with only one game left on the schedule. That game will see the Lady Demons travel to Eunice to take on the Lady Bobcats tonight. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
Things did not start well for Mamou on both sides of the floor. Using their obvious height advantage, the Ladies jumped out to a 7-2 lead over the first two minutes of the game. The Lady Demons added two points at the 5:20 mark when Kazhanna Richard hit two free throws.
Crowley extended the lead to 12-4 after hitting the next two shots of the quarter. A Richard basket was followed by another Crowley basket, giving the Ladies a 14-6 lead as time expired in the first period.
Crowley scored the initial bucket of the second quarter, but put Mamou on the line the next two times the Lady Demons had possession. Mamou hit only one of four from the charity stripe, an omen of things to come later in the contest. So, with 5:32 left to go in the period, Crowley held a 16-7 advantage.
The two teams exchanged baskets for the remaining time in the quarter. When the buzzer had sounded to end the first half, Crowley owned a 10-point lead, 25-15.
Over the first five minutes of the third quarter, Crowley was able to increase the size of their lead substantially, going on an 8-1 run. The only point that Mamou could muster during that time was a single free throw from Richard, despite the fact that the Lady Demons appeared at the free throw line on three different occasions.
However, the resiliency of the Lady Demons did not disappear after finding themselves down 33-16. In the final minutes of the period, the Mamou snipers found their target from beyond the arc, when Richard and Brianna Thibodeaux combined for a trio of three-point shots. Richard’s second bomb banked off the glass with only one second left on the clock to cut the Crowley lead down to nine points, 34-25.
As the fourth quarter opened, the pace became fast and furious on both ends of the floor. Crowley and Mamou traded baskets and free throws throughout the initial minute of play, creating a 39-29 lead for the Ladies.
Crowley converted on a three-point play at the 6:44 mark, giving the Ladies a 12-point advantage. Nevertheless, the Lady Demons reached down inside and found some extra go-go juice. Mamou scorched the nets, going on a 12-0 run to cut the lead down to one point, 42-41, with 2:54 to go in the game.
The Lady Demons had the opportunity to take the lead just 43 seconds later, as they were sent to the line to shot three free throws. But, as the earlier part of the night showed, Mamou could not convert on any of the attempts, leaving the lead at one point.
That was all that Crowley needed, as the game turned into a free throw shooting contest. The Ladies hit a two- point bucket and went four for seven at the line to close out the game. The Lady Demons woeful night at the charity stripe continued, as Mamou was one for four over that same span.
Richard led all Lady Demons, scoring 19 points on the night.
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TRACEY JAGNEAUX