The No. 2 seed Dumas Ladycats upset top seed Drew Central Lady Pirates 56-41 Friday, February 18, 2022 in the Finals of the 8-3A District Tournament held at Dumas High School.
Head Coach Glory Slater, assistant coaches Larry Harris Jr. and Tiffany Davis starters included: #30 Mirica Scott, #2 La'Paysha Croom, #23 freshman Alana Rounds, #31 freshman Ziyaun McKinzie and #12 junior Ma'Dyson McKinzie.
The Ladycats are a different team after moving up their undefeated Jr. Ladycat ninth grade players, who finished their season under Head Coach Tiffany Davis, a perfect 9-0. The bigger stage hasn't effected these freshmen as Rounds has handled the ball at point guard very well. Rounds has also penetrated, dished the ball and made beautiful one handed running shots from both sides of the basket as well as made 3-pointers from the top of the key, while #31 Ziyaun McKinzie is a force in the paint, battling and scoring with her sister #12 Ma'Dyson McKinzie
In the first half Drew Central guard #10 Jayla Thompson made four 3-pointers. The Ladycat coaching staff made a critical adjustment during halftime. They assigned Thompson to Dumas freshman guard #3 Stephana Steen. Steen did her job well, limiting the Lady Pirate's go-to-shooter to only two points in the second half. A huge adjustment that was a major factor leading to the Dumas victory.
Mirica Scott's outstanding harassing full court defense caused Drew Central to struggle to get the ball across half court. When Drew Central did get a shot off, the McKinzie sisters were usually all over the rebounds, battling a very physical Lady Pirate center Kaisa Orr, who also camped out in the lane through-out the entire game, thought the officials never whistled a single three seconds in the lane violation.
The Ladycats scored the first point in the game when #2 Croom made one of two free throw attempts before Drew Central went on a short run to go up 7-1 forcing Dumas to call the contest's first timeout with 5:41 to play in the opening period.
After the timeout, the M. McKinzie scored a basket in the paint, followed by two baskets by Ziyaun McKinzie. Drew Central's Kais Orr scored back to back baskets for the Lady Pirates.
However, Ladycat Alan Rounds drove the left side of the lane, as the clock was running out, and made a one-handed nothing but net shot as the first period buzzer sounded to cut the Lady Pirates lead to 11-10. As that shot swished through the net, the Dumas crowd roared to life.
Ladycat #14 Mia Dixon started the Dumas second period with a 3-pointer, however Drew Central's Thompson made back to back 3-pointers to answer before the Drew Central call the game's second timeout with 2:35 left in the first half.
Steen added a two point basket, Dixon made another 3-pointer before Rounds scored a bucket and Z. McKinzie made one of two free-throws. However, Drew Central outscored the Ladycats 14-1 in the period to take a 25-21 lead at the half.
After halftime adjustments, the tide turned Dumas way in the second half.
The Ladycats dominated the third period, outscoring Drew Central 19-5, to go up 40-30, led by M. McKinzie with 10 points in the quarter and Rounds with seven points. Rounds again ended the third period with a two point basket at the buzzer.
Dumas outscored Drew Central 14-10 in the fourth period to claim a 56-41 victory and become the 8-3A No. 1 seed in this week's Arkansas Region 4 Basketball Tournament to be held at Dumas High School.
M. McKinzie led the Ladycats with 17 points, while Rounds scored 14 points including two three-pointers.
Z. McKinzie scored 13 points, while Mia Dixon made one 3-pointer and Anessa Hill made a 3-pointer.
La'Paysha Croom scored three points, while Stephana Steen added three points.
The Ladycats shot 50% from the free-throw line, making eight of 16 attempts.
The Ladycats will take on Bismark Wednesday, February 23rd at 2 pm in the first round of the 2022 3A Girls Region 4 Tournament at Dumas High School.
