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Senior-laden Hurricanes edge Rockets to keep playoffs in sight
Senior Night can be kind of a mixed blessing for girls’ basketball teams.
With emotions running high as the soon-to-be outgoing seniors are honored, on-court performances can be uneven. That was the hurdle Sam Houston (10-7, 8-4) had to clear in order to defeat pesky Kennedy (8-12, 6-7) Jan. 19 in a District 27-5A game.
With contributions from each of their six seniors, the Hurricanes were able to hold off the Rockets for a 51-48 win at Sam Houston. Before the victory, Sam Houston was only a game ahead of Kennedy in the district standings. For an encore, the Hurricanes smashed Edison 60-24 Jan. 22 at Alamo Convocation Center to claim third place with four games remaining.
“Only two kids have been in my lineup consistently (previously),” Sam Houston coach Marchae Woods said. “They have a lot of potential, and it’s their chance to step up.”
Sam Houston is aiming for its fifth-consecutive playoff appearance. The Hurricanes graduated three of the top four scorers from last year’s team.
Tyera Harris is one of six Hurricanes seniors who have risen to the challenge. Harris incurred a torn anterior cruciate ligament as a freshman, a strained medial collateral ligament as a sophomore and a torn meniscus as a junior.
“This group is best friends off the court,” Woods said. “They’re just starting to mesh on the court.”
Kennedy outscored Sam Houston 31-12 in the second half after the Hurricanes raced to a 22-point halftime lead. The Rockets scored 12 unanswered points to close within 51-48 on a steal and layup from sophomore Treasure Vallerie (21 points) with 52.4 seconds remaining.
Harris, who recorded the Hurricanes’ last basket with 6:45 remaining, produced a steal at midcourt with 10 seconds to preserve the win.
“When they made a run, it was frustrating,” Harris said. “But everybody did well. They all played their part. Everybody wanted to win.
“My teammates really helped me. Without them, it wouldn’t have happened.”
Senior Levolea Wallace made two free throws and Harris added one to give the Hurricanes a 9-2 lead with 4:38 left in the opening quarter. Kennedy narrowed the gap to 13-8 at the 1:13 mark on a short jumper from Sensation Vallerie (8 points) off an assist from Jayda Garcia.
Sam Houston led 29-14 with 4:33 until halftime when Carmen Hansen banked in a three-point shot. It was 39-17 at intermission following a three-pointer from senior Delores Ijames Curtis.
“We were just overdoing it,” Woods said. “We just opened it up for (Kennedy).”
It was a difficult week for Kennedy, which was in fifth place after a 65-34 loss to Lanier at Edgewood Gym Jan. 22.
Kennedy responded with a 13-2 run to start the second half. Victoria Alejandro, Lexus Solis and Treasure Vallerie made three-pointers during the stretch, while Sensation Vallerie scored twice inside to make it 41-32 with 3:01 left in the third quarter.
Treasure Vallerie and Garcia each scored six points during the Rockets’ late run at Sam Houston. Garcia knocked down a pair of three-point baskets, one off an assist from Vallerie.
“It has been fun,” Harris said. “Every year we’ve had different obstacles. We just want to make it to the playoffs and we want to go further than the third round.
“We have a lot to live up to.”