John Curtis back on top with girls basketball state title win over Woodlawn

HAMMOND – After winning six straight state championships, John Curtis Christian saw its streak end in the state title game a year ago.

The bitter memory lingered.

It has been erased.

Second-seeded John Curtis led from start to finish in a 60-46 victory over No. 5 Woodlawn of Baton Rouge to win the Select Division I state title Saturday afternoon at University Center.

It was the second win of the season for Curtis over Woodlawn, as the Lady Patriots won 68-55 on Nov. 20.

It is not how you start but how you finish.

John Curtis started each half on 6-0 runs and gained separation and the Lady Panthers could never make up the difference.

“I felt like we came out from the start on defense with discipline and on offense, we pushed the tempo,” Curtis coach Alendra Brown said. “On defense, the girls knew their assignments, they knew what to do, knew where to go and they communicated.”

The Lady Patriots jumped out to a 6-0 lead against the 2-2-1 zone of the Lady Panthers and Curtis led 15-10 to end the quarter with Jayla Albert scoring seven points in the quarter for Curtis.

The lead grew to 26-17 by halftime with Amijah Price keeping Woodlawn in the game with 10 points.

The Patriots started the second half the same way they started the game, on a 6-0 run to take a 32-17 lead and grew the lead to 41-24 before carrying a 41-30 lead to the fourth quarter. Imani Daniel had seven points, going 7-of-8 from the free throw line, in the quarter.

Woodlawn made a run in the fourth quarter, pulling within 47-40 before the Lady Patriots closed the game on a 6-1 run to claim the title.

Daniel was named the Most Outstanding Player, scoring 17 points, pulling down 10 rebounds, dishing out five assists and coming up with four steals.

“We all talked about 50-50 balls this year,” Daniel said. “It feels great but to be honest, I’m not a senior yet so it’s like we need to do things all over again next year. It’s more of a pride thing. Everybody knows we’re a basketball school. At this point, we expect to be here. We have to come back harder next year to get back here.”

Albert led the Lady Patriots (22-4) with 20 points and nine rebounds. Chikae Desdunes added eight points.

“I feel good because last season, I only got to play five games and we ended up losing,” Albert said. “This year, we came back and beat a good team and won it.”

Amijah Price led Woodlawn (25-10) with 10 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out with 41.2 seconds to play in the game. Zyriah Williams added 11 points.

Curtis had a decided advantage in points off turnovers by a 20-8 margin and in fast break points, with a 12-4 edge.

The start and the finish proved decisive as John Curtis finished the deal this time around.

“I am so excited,” Brown said. “That taste from last year was a bad taste. We didn’t want to feel that again. To finally get it this year, we don’t take it for granted. We finally got it, we are blessed and humble.”