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Lady Dragons lose home opener in OT
By Brent Wilburn
The Paris News
Published November 5, 2009
It was a debut full of moments that first-year Paris Junior College Lady Dragon head coach Sean LeBeauf would rather forget.
The Lady Dragons trailed for much of the game but eventually pushed it to a five-minute overtime period. However, they failed to capitalize on that opportunity and suffered a 79-76 setback against the Arkansas Baptist College Lady Buffaloes on Wednesday at the Hunt Center.
PJC faced a nine-point deficit with 5:30 remaining in the second half before the team forced turnovers and executed a fast break offense, which led to 11 straight points scored by Parris Price and Randi White and allowed the team to claim a temporary lead.
That’s the only memory LeBeauf needed to carry from the game.
“The only good thing about that game was when we were down nine and they showed some toughness and fought back,” he said. “That was the only thing I told them to take out of that game. That’s the only time they really fought.”
The Lady Dragons held brief leads at various points in the game and never let Arkansas Baptist run away with it.
Late in the second half, Arkansas Baptist led by two points before PJC tied it after sophomore Taylor Ammons drove down the baseline and scored a layup to tie the game and ultimately sent it to overtime.
PJC took its final lead of the game after a shot by Destiny Smith with 55 seconds remaining in overtime. Arkansas Baptist regained the lead with 35 seconds remaining and extended it to three points with only seven seconds remaining. An off-balanced 3-pointer by Sekeya Roberson fell short at the buzzer as Arkansas Baptist left the Hunt Center with the win.
“I told them (in the locker room after the game) that I’m going to make it feel like a funeral in here,” LeBeauf said. “I’m going to make it seem like somebody died. That’s how bad I want them to feel, because that’s the only way they’re going to have a sense of urgency. People only really care when they’re about to die. That’s when it really matters is when it’s too late.
“That’s how they need to feel. When they come out here tomorrow, they’d better have a sense of urgency.”
Former PJC Lady Dragon Ashley Gardner scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Lady Buffaloes in her return to Paris. Jalessa Williams led Arkansas Baptist in the scoring column with 25 points.
Meoshi Bradley, who played limited minutes because of a knee injury, led the Lady Dragons with 15 points. Ammons scored 14 points and gathered nine rebounds. Smith also recorded 14 points and Price scored 13 points.
The Lady Dragons are scheduled to return to the court at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Hunt Center as they host Murray State.
Arkansas Baptist 37 35 7 — 79
PJC 35 37 4 — 76
Arkansas Baptist (1-0): Jelessa Williams 25, Ashley Gardner 19, Posha Donnerson 14, Simone Young 11, Lashonia West 6, Pre’va Edwards 2, Jalisa Montgomery 2. Threes 6 (Gardner 2, Young 2, West 1, Williams 1). Turnovers 24. FT 23-37. Fouls 20.
PJC (0-1): Meoshi Bradley 15, Taylor Ammons 14, Destiny Smith 14, Parris Price 13, Randi White 8, LaKrisha Pennon 4, Briannah Matthews 4, Sekeya Roberson 2, Shantel Davis-Jenkins 2. Threes 2 (Price 1, Bradley 1). Turnovers 23. FT 14-23. Fouls 24.
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