By LAMAR GAFFORD
There had been numerous bumps in the road this season for the Northwood girls basketball team, but it wound up in a familiar destination.
For the right to play for a championship on the final day of the season.
Clinging to a slim one-point lead at the end of the third, the Lady Gators defeated Hamilton Christian, 47-41, Tuesday in the Division IV select semifinals.
With the win, Northwood sets up a rematch in the championship game with Southern Lab – the team it defeated for the Division IV select title in overtime last season.
“This year, I can honestly say that adversity was amongst us,” Lady Gators coach Lashonda Cooper said.
Weathering that storm has been senior point guard Rhianna Battles, who had 21 points, seven assists and seven steals on 10 of 18 shooting to will her team back to the finals.
Northwood (19-12) traded the lead with the Lady Warriors early in the fourth, but two straight buckets by Battles put it ahead for good.
“I really had to understand that I had to put it on my back,” Battles said. “Every game I’ve played this year, it’s been hard. Even against the easy teams. I’ve never played basketball this hard before,” Battles said.
Hamilton Christian (24-7) opened the game by shooting 54.5 percent from the field, but a 2-for-13 showing in the fourth quarter came when it counted most. McKenzie Deville had seven points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead her team.
The Lady Gators are the second Rapides Parish team to make fourth straight girls basketball championship games – following Plainview’s feat from 2017-2020. It can be the first to win three straight titles as tipoff is set for 2 p.m. Friday.
OAK HILL 79, PLAINVIEW 46
There was a guarantee that one Rapides Parish team would compete for the Division V select title Friday.
That team would be Oak Hill as its victory over Plainview will set up a championship game rematch with JS Clark.
Oak Hill (28-13) outpaced the Lady Hornets by putting up 86 shots, grabbing 29 offensive rebounds and forcing 28 turnovers as junior guard Brilee Dousay scored a game-high 24 points on 11 of 21 shooting.
“I’m so proud of this group of girls,” Oak Hill coach Kaci West said. “They all try to do their part and contribute. That’s been our whole motto this week. We’re not thinking about winning or losing, we’re all just thinking about playing hard and doing our job. At the end of the day, whether we win or lose, we’re going to feel good about that.”
Plainview junior Libby Tarver had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while fellow junior Arabella Ashworth blocked six shots.
The Lady Hornets (16-19) made the state tournament for the 14th time over the last 15 years after upsetting Claiborne Christian in the quarterfinals.
PARKVIEW BAPTIST 65, MENARD 46
Menard is still looking for that elusive girls Marsh Madness victory after falling Monday in the Division III select semifinals to defending champion Parkview Baptist.
Despite going 5-for-8 from the field in the third quarter, Menard was outscored 24-12 as a 10-point halftime deficit became 22 points with a quarter to go.
The frontcourt duo of Lauren Smith (18 points, nine rebounds) and Carly Meynard (14 points, 14 rebounds) kept Menard (22-12) afloat on what was otherwise a rough shooting day.
Addy Bernhard paced Parkview Baptist (23-10) with 26 points. That group of Lady Eagles will face district rival University Lab for the Division III select title Friday.