6A State Playoffs: Duncanville Outlasts DeSoto
I got to see the top two teams in Texas go head-to-head in Fort Worth Tuesday night. I’ll start by saying that it’s ridiculous that the No. 1 ranked Duncanville Pantherettes and No. 2 DeSoto Eagles had to face off…
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Continue ReadingI got to see the top two teams in Texas go head-to-head in Fort Worth Tuesday night. I’ll start by saying that it’s ridiculous that the No. 1 ranked Duncanville Pantherettes and No. 2 DeSoto Eagles had to face off against one another in the third round of the postseason, but it does indicate that the DFW area is home to some of the best squads in the state.
These two nationally ranked teams kept it close for the entirety of the game. Both sides played suffocating defense throughout, making every point that was scored meaningful. DeSoto held a small lead for much of the night, but Duncanville never trailed by a significant margin. Nobody should be surprised that this contest came down to the last few possessions. The Pantherettes were able to capitalize on their late game trips to the free throw line while the Eagles did not, and that ultimately ended up being the difference as Duncanville emerged victorious by a score of 47-43. They’ll square off against Arlington Martin in the Regional semifinals on Friday.
Here are seven standout prospects from this playoff matchup:
Deja Kelly – 2020 5’8 Combo Guard (Drive Nation EYBL) Duncanville HS – The North Carolina commit is a tremendous ball handler and showed off her crafty shot making ability vs. DeSoto, finishing with a game-high 20 points. She has a knack for making timely plays on offense when her team needs a jolt. Kelly came up big for Duncanville during the final moments of the game. She had a chance to tie things up at the foul line but missed the second free throw. However, the future Tar Heel chased down the offensive rebound and earned another trip to the line where she nailed the next two free throws and gave her team the lead in what turned out to be the most important sequence of the night.
Zaria Rufus – 2021 6’0 Power Forward (Drive Nation 16U EYBL) Duncanville HS – Rufus was at a size disadvantage vs. a pair of defensively gifted bigs from DeSoto. That said, she managed to hold her own on the boards while also making some key defensive plays. Furthermore, the junior forward moves well and runs the floor in transition.
Nyah Wilson – 2021 5’8 Combo Guard (CyFair EYBL) Duncanville HS – Wilson has a high motor that is evident at all times. The junior guard is a lockdown perimeter defender, coming up with numerous steals during this game. She loves to push the tempo on offense. Her instincts are tremendous, and her energy is infectious
Tristen Taylor – 2023 5’5 Guard Duncanville HS – The freshman is a speedy ball handler who looks like she was shot out of a cannon when she accelerates in the open court. Taylor has the vision and skill to make cross court passes to open teammates. She also has a nice floater that she employs when she gets into the paint. She will continue to improve as her role increases in the coming years.
Jiya Perry – 2022 5’10 Shooting Guard (Team Lex Gold) DeSoto HS – Perry finished the game as DeSoto’s leading scorer with 12 points. She drilled a pair of catch-and-shoot threes in the first half and hit a pull-up jumper in transition late in the contest as well. Additionally, the sophomore guard showed good off-ball movement in the half court.
Tionna Herron – 2022 6’5 Power Forward (Team Lex Gold) DeSoto HS – Herron is a stud rim protector in the paint. She is quick to get off her feet and knows how to time her jumps when defending down low. Furthermore, she does a great job of high-pointing rebounds at both ends and possesses solid touch on her put-backs.
Jamia Harris – 2022 5’8 Combo Guard (Team Lex Gold) DeSoto HS – Harris led all scorers in the first half by dropping 11 points. The sophomore is a good three-point shooter from the catch. She plays tough on-ball defense too, making her a terrific three-and-D player for the Eagles.
Honorable Mentions:
Anaya Bernard – 2021 6’0 Forward Duncanville HS
Amina Muhammad – 2022 6’4 Power Forward/Center DeSoto HS
Michayla Gatewood – 2022 5’6 Point Guard DeSoto HS
Laila McLeod – 2022 5’10 Shooting Guard Duncanville HS