JS Clark reverses last season's outcome, beats Oak Hill for Division V select title
HAMMOND, LOUISIANA – Last season, JS Clark experienced the heartbreak of being one game short of a state championship.
It was determined not to let that happen again.
After Oak Hill won last year’s Division V select championship game, the roles were reversed Friday as JS Clark won this year’s contest, 67-45, at the Pride Roofing University Center. The win is JS Clark’s first in girls basketball.
“They deserve this win,” JS Clark coach Ross Rix said. “They’ve worked extremely hard, not only since I’ve been at JS Clark. It’s been a long time coming.
"I’m excited for the school, excited for the community and excited for the growth and progress for this girls basketball program. The future is extremely bright.”
Down 25-23 with 2:55 to go in the first half, Clark (24-6) responded with a 26-4 run, spanning nearly 12 minutes, to take control of the ballgame thanks to dominating in the paint and on the fast break.
Controlling the tempo was Clark sophomore Taylor Barnaba, as she was named as the game’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring 18 points with six assists, four rebounds and eight steals. Fellow sophomore Akeelah Williams posted a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.
“Last year, we were kind of scared since it was our first time in the Top 28, but in order to be the man, you have to beat the man,” Barnaba said.
JS Clark sophomore Taylor Barnaba (23) calls out a play in the Division V select championship game against Oak Hill. Barnaba was named as the game's Most Outstanding Player.
While Clark thrived in the third quarter, Oak Hill (28-14) struggled to find its shot – missing all 16 of its field goals and settling for four free throws.
When Oak Hill senior and LSU-Alexandria commit Alexis Dyer ended the shooting slump with a jumper to cut the deficit to 49-31 early in in the fourth, it was all but over as Clark stayed ahead by double digits the rest of the way.
“I thought they did a great job of closing the lane up and getting back every single possession,” Oak Hill coach Kaci West said. “They played with a lot of intensity and I think that was the difference in the game.”
Oak Hill senior Krystina Greene (1) fights through JS Clark's triple team during the Division V select championship game in Hammond on Friday.
Dyer closed her high school career with 28 points and 12 rebounds, but it was a struggle for the team as it shot 26.5% as a whole and went 5-for-20 from 3-point range.
With her 28 points Friday, Dyer reached the 3,000-point mark – closing her career with 3,001 points and 1,843 rebounds. With her set to sign to LSUA soon, she was emotional when reflecting about her time at Oak Hill.
“(Being a member of this team) means absolutely everything,” Dyer said. “This was the highlight of my life and playing with Coach West and these girls was everything.
"We just have such a great bond and the love that this team has is unmatched.”
This is the third straight season that Oak Hill has reached the championship game at the LHSAA girls basketball state tournament. It won the Division V select title last year and finished as the Class B runner-up to Fairview in 2022.
-- LaMar Gafford | @SBLiveLA
