HAMMOND – A 3-point barrage by Bell City was too much for Oak Hill to overcome Tuesday in the Class B girls basketball semifinals at the LHSAA’s Marsh Madness tournament.

For the first time in four seasons, Oak Hill couldn’t advance out of the semifinals to the state championship game as Bell City built a big lead, fought off a valiant fourth-quarter rally and pulled away at the end for a 72-54 victory at the University Center.

Oak Hill (30-11) jumped to an early lead before Bell City (25-3) began draining 3-pointers. The Lady Bruins had 11 treys among their first 14 baskets. They ran off 16 unanswered points in a 22-1 run that put them on top to stay.

Bell City finished with 12 of its 24 buckets coming from behind the 3-point arc.

Opening a 31-20 halftime advantage, the second-seeded winners began the third period with three straight 3-pointers into a 40-24 lead that grew to a 22-point margin in the fourth quarter.

But Oak Hill did not falter, mounting a tremendous comeback to within 59-51 with four minutes left, culminated by 7 unanswered points. However, Bell City replied with an 8-0 burst to regained control down the stretch via a 13-1 run.

Senior Jodie Jowers led Oak Hill with 23 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Despite playing with a torn ACL sustained earlier that curtailed her previous dominant play, senior Brilee Dousay scored 11. Lainey Johnson added 9 and Braylee Cedus contributed 8 for Oak Hill, the 2023 state champion.

Oak Hill was the last Rapides Parish girls team remaining in this year’s playoff brackets. Bell City reached the state finals for the first time since 1973 behind a 24-point outing from Payton Herpin and 18, all on 3-pointers, from Caroline Guillory.