The game began roughly for Bogalusa, but the Lady Jacks hung tough in a 71-57 loss to Independence in a District 7-3A home game Tuesday.
The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 12-0 lead over the first 2:33 of the game.
Independence’s run began with Diamond Manuel, who was the team’s leading scorer with 25 points, hitting two of her three 3-pointers to make it 6-0. Ialiyah Preston, who recorded 23 points, was fouled on a drive to the bucket. She split the free throws, but the Lady Tigers got the offensive rebound, which led to Manuel hitting for two to make it 9-0. Evelyn Neal hit a 3-pointer to cap the run and it was very quickly 12-0 with 5:27 left in the first quarter.
Bogalusa trailed 24-10 after one quarter, and it was 41-29 at halftime.
Despite the deficit, the Lady Jacks, who trailed by as many as 20 at 52-32 with 2:43 left in the third quarter, always seemed to be just one run away from making things close.
“The girls did a great job. They endured that first quarter,” Bogalusa coach Ken Matthews said. “It was a shaky first quarter, but they never gave up. To come back from the deficit we were at, it just shows they have heart. Like I told them, if you don’t do anything else, have heart out here.”
Bogalusa struggled with turnovers throughout the game.
Also, Independence did a good job getting to the bucket and drawing fouls. The Lady Tigers shot 49 free throws, but converted just 25 (51 percent).
Independence increased its lead to 55-38 by the end of the third period, but trailing 63-46, the Lady Jacks tallied six points in a row.
The run started when Diamond Martin capped off a Lady Jacks steal with a layup. Then Bianca Pittman passed to Martin for a layup and Martin capped the run with a backcourt steal and a layup. It was 63-52 with 1:30 left in the fourth. The closest Bogalusa was able to get after the rough start was nine points at 66-57, as Independence went on to the 71-57 win.
Martin had a strong game. She led all scorers with 30 points and knocked down five 3-pointers.
Destiny Lewis posted 11 points, which included a 3-pointer.
Bianca Pittman tallied six points while Deranique Lee had four, Asia Nelson recorded three, Prayja Bickham added two and Lulu Ball finished with one.
The Lady Jacks are 9-13 overall and 0-6 in district. Bogalusa is 36th in the unofficial LHSAA Class 3A power rankings.
Bogalusa is back in action with a road game against Albany on Monday before returning home to close out the regular season against Amite on Feb. 9.
Independence’s Neal posted 13 points and she hit a 3-pointer.
LaShira Washington had four while Shaniya Nelson totaled three, Breonna Bennett tallied two and Shekita Wells added one.
Independence is 6-9 overall and 2-4 in district. The Lady Tigers are 34th in the unofficial LHSAA Class 3A power rankings.