ITTA BENA, Miss. --- Monday night's last home competition was a good one! It is one thing to have friends playing against each other on the court, but when the competition is on the sideline that energy transfers unto the game making for a good one. First year Head Coach Ashley Walker of Mississippi Valley versus second year Head Coach Ravon Justice of Prairie View was a sight to see, and the game was played down to the wire.
The first half was controlled by the Devilettes as they took a ten-point lead into halftime; controlling the lead throughout the first two quarters. The Lady Panther's leading scorer, Shala Dobbins was scoreless in the first and only scored eight points in the second before she retreated to the bench with three fouls.
The Devilettes defense forced the Lady Panthers to take outside shots, yet the Lady Panthers couldn't get their shots to fall. The activeness of the Devilettes' defense was fueled by Coach Walker's energy on the sideline.
The third quarter was full of emotions as both teams racked up fouls that sent many scorers to the bench for a while. Both teams turned the ball over to start the third quarter; however, after MaKayla Bonner's jumper the Lady Panthers went on an 11-0 run (40-41).
LaKendra Bassett entered the quarter with three fouls and picked up her fourth quickly, a play that started the Lady Panthers multiple trips to the charity stripe. The summary of the third quarter was fouls and trips to the free throw line as both teams were in the bonus. The Lady Panthers capitalized at the line and went into the fourth quarter with a 55-52 lead.
Prairie View had six players with three or more fouls to start the fourth quarter, and the Devilettes had three. Ultimately, Dominique Newman and La'Neique Nealey fouled out in the fourth quarter.
Bassett opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets after sitting on the bench with four fouls. Parker also reentered the fourth after sitting out with four fouls. After losing their lead in the third quarter, the Devilettes took the lead with 1:01 left in the game after two score ties. Bonner's putback and jumper before and after the Devilettes' timeout respectively put the Devilettes ahead three with 25.5 seconds left in the last quarter. Shala Dobbins' responded with a three pointer off a screen that pulled the Lady Panthers within one. A blocking call on Bonner with 10.6 on the clock sent Dobbins to the line to shoot two, and ultimately won the game for the Lady Panthers.
Statistically, neither team dominated but the game was interesting and full of exciting plays! The Devilettes shot 35.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 64.3 from the charity stripe in comparison to Prairie View's 38.3 percent from field, 24 percent from three-point range and 69.7 from the charity stripe.
In the heartbreaking 74-75 loss, MaKayla Bonner lead the Devilettes with 22 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out. Even in foul trouble, LaKendra Bassett dropped 14 points and Kristy Parker contributed 13. Off the bench, Sydney Floyd had 13 points and six rebounds. Lone senior, Kenya Arnold contributed seven points and pulled down 13 rebounds as she played in her last home game at the Valley.
The Devilettes will end their regular season on the road. Saturday's contest at Jackson State will start the three-game road trip before heading to the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center to take on the Lady Tigers of Grambling. Finally, the Devilettes will end regular season play at UAPB.
