Close call: Charles Henderson Lady Trojans survive hard test against the Eufaula Tigers on Friday night
Published 3:00 am Saturday, January 23, 2016
![Photo/mike Hensley Niaira jones attempting to pass in the basketball Friday night in a game against the Eufaula Tigers. Jones and the Trojans defeated the Tigers 46-34.](https://www.troymessenger.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2016/01/DSC_0243web.jpg)
Photo/mike Hensley
Niaira jones attempting to pass in the basketball Friday night in a game against the Eufaula Tigers. Jones and the Trojans defeated the Tigers 46-34.
After struggling to win a week ago, the Charles Henderson Lady Trojans easily defeated the Eufaula Tigers 46-34 on Friday.
The rematch gave the Lady Trojans (25-1) a chance to revisit one of the only two teams that has posed a threat to them this year.
“They have good post players and they have good guards,” said Trojans head coach Dyneshia Jones. “They are ranked for a good reason.”
The Lady Trojans jumped out to a fast start in the first quarter and led by as many as 12 points before the Tigers gained control. Eufaula outscored Charles Henderson 16-4 in the second period and had closed the gap to 28-18 by the half.
The Trojans struggled to keep pace with the Tigers’ high octane offense, and a quick transition game caused turnovers and missed shots.
“They had a lot of fast break layups,” Jones said. “When they got the rebounds, we were trying to get the steals, while their girls were off on fast breaks getting layups.”
Tatyana Siler and Maori Davenport both scored nine points in the first half.
The Tigers came out roaring in the second half, and the Trojans struggled to keep pace.. The Tigers scored the first six points of the third quarter and gained a 24-20 lead, causing Jones to call an early second half time out.
Davenport’s size kept the Trojans in the game in the second half and her shot-altering length helped control the lane driving Tigers.
“It was great,” Jones said. “It’s hard because she is six foot four with a long wing span. It is always great to have that.”
Davenport scored all but four points for the Trojans in the third quarter and Charles Henderson took a four point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Trojans were able to hold on to the lead in the fourth quarter thanks to untimely turnovers for the Tigers and just like they have done all season long weathered the storm and outscored the Tigers 12-6 and securing the double-digit lead.
“We were down at two at halftime but I told them lets just play Charles Henderson basketball,” Jones said. “Them scoring was because of our mistakes we just need to fix some holes we just have to protect the basketball.”
Davenport finished with 19 points to lead the Trojans on Friday night.
The Lady Trojans will be back in action on Monday when they travel to take on Enterprise at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow shortly at approximately 7:30 p.m.