The Greenacres Lady Mustangs eighth-grade team and Benton Lady Tigers seventh-grade squad are setting the pace at the halfway point of Bossier Parish middle school girls basketball district play.
The Lady Mustangs lead the eighth-grade district with a 5-0 record after a 41-34 victory over Haughton Thursday. Benton is in second place, one game back, after defeating Elm Grove 29-17.
Benton tops the seventh-grade standings with a 5-0 mark.
The Lady Tigers downed Elm Grove 34-12 Thursday. Haughton, which defeated Greenacres 34-9, is second at 4-1.
In the other eighth-grade game Thursday, Cope defeated Rusheon 37-23. In the other seventh-grade game, Rusheon downed Cope 44-27.
At Greenacres, nine Lady Mustangs scored in the eighth-grade victory. Traciona Russell and Ladayjah Means led the way with eight points each. Zakiya Johnson scored five. Paris Greenard, J’nhaudika Cook, Dantria Stewart and Dakota Bryan scored four apiece.
Takaiyah Sweeney and Taylor Brokenberry combined for 16 points to lead the Haughton seventh-graders to the win. Nicole Landry added six and Allyson Green had four.
Amaar Shihadeh led Greenacres with four points.
At Benton, Emily Ward scored 10 points and had six assists to lead the Lady Tigers eighth-grade team to the victory. Georgia Carroway and Abbie Wynn combined for 14.
Savannah Powell and Abby Colvin played outstanding pressure defense, coach Mary Jo Duddy said. Morgan Bradford also played well defensively and collected several offensive rebounds, Duddy said.
Elm Grove’s Maecy Ingram and Madeline Grunewald combined for eight points.
Te’Quaza Chambers scored a season-high 21 points and had eight steals in the Lady Tigers’ seventh-grade win. Mar’Kayla Clark and Alisa Harris combined for eight points.
Claire Ambrose, Madi Simms and Emily Cox played tough defense, Duddy said.
Madison Collins scored four points for the Lady Eagles.
At Cope, Emily Francis scored a season-high 19 points to lead the Lady Cougars eighth-graders. Erica Loeak helped the Cope cause with six.
Mercedez Martin paced the Lady Rams with 10 points. Mel’quazia Lewis and Essence Walpool combined for 12. Coach Cedric Washington said he was proud of his team’s effort for four quarters.
Kelcee Marshall poured in 17 points to lead the victorious Lady Rams seventh-graders. Crystal Norton also had a big game with 15 points. Jada Hardy added seven.
Washington said every player contributed to the win with strong defensive play.
Haley Richardson led the Lady Cougars with 11 points, and Keiarra McCoy added nine.
— Russell Hedges, rhedges@bossierpress.com
