Lafayette Christian Academy finishes off 'four-peat' with late rally for Division II select crown
HAMMOND, LOUISIANA - The four-peat is complete.
Top-seeded Lafayette Christian Academy fought back from a late deficit to claim its fourth consecutive girls basketball state title on Saturday. Most Outstanding Player Jada Richard capped off her prep career with 18 points for the Lady Knights, who defeated Madison Prep, 53-48, at the University Center for the Division II select title.
"To be honest, I feel excitement, but I'm sad because we have been playing together since we were eight," said LCA guard Indy Hebert, who scored eight points.
The Lady Knights will graduate Richard - an LSU signee - along with Hebert and forward Eve Alexander, who scored eight points with 11 rebounds, three steals and a block. The 6-foot forward hit a 3-pointer for a 10-6 lead in the first quarter, something coach Errol Rogers expected from Alexander.
"We shot a lot of 3's (Friday in practice)," Rogers said. "I told Eve she was going to make a shot when it matters. I get on them, but I believe in them.
"I told Indy we were going to need her (Saturday). She hit two big 3's. They both came through when we needed it the most."
In addition to the early 3-pointer, Alexander made back-to-back close-range buckets to knot the score at 38-all with two minutes remaining. Richard took care of business at the free throw line, making 8-of-9 in the fourth quarter. She didn't get to the line until the final period.
"These three young ladies have been my 'ride and die,'" an emotional Rogers said of his senior trio. "You don't understand. I love all three of them.
"You don't understand what we've been through. Y'all don't understand how hard I've been on them; how hard I've pushed them."
Lafayette Christian Academy players Jada Richard (from left), Indy Hebert, coach Errol Rogers and Eve Alexander listen to a question during the postgame press conference following the Lady Knights' Division II select championship game win on March 2, 2024.
The Lady Knights threatened to blow out the No. 3 Lady Chargers in the first quarter, staking a 7-0 lead on buckets from Richard, Hebert and Paityn Dean and an Alexander free throw.
Madison Prep (25-11) trailed by 11 late in the first quarter, but held the Lady Knights to three points in the second for a 20-14 deficit at intermission. Prep then used an 8-0 run for a 22-20 lead in the third.
Hebert halted the dry spell, however, canning consecutive 3-pointers for a four-point lead (26-22).
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"Coach (Dwayne) Hayes had Madison Prep ready to play basketball," Rogers said. "Give them all the credit in the world. I think the Wicked Witch of the East flew over and put a spell on us because we couldn't catch or pass the ball."
Madison Prep got 28 points in the paint compared to 10 for the Lady Knights, and the Lady Chargers accounted for 18 of the game's 20 fast break points. Junior guard Paige Hawkins scored 13 points, and freshman Brooklyn Smith added 12.
"The mindset going in was that we had to throw the first punch to get the lead early on," Smith said. "It's my first time in a big gym with the lights. I was excited. I wanted that ring.
"We didn't come up with it, but we're coming back next year. We'll be better."
The Lady Knights defeated Madison Prep in early January, 54-35. The Lady Chargers overcame a 4-7 start to the season, winning 18 of their final 21 games ahead of the playoffs.
"We took this game very personal," Hawkins said. "We came out with energy. We came up short, but it's all good.
"We'll be back next year - revenge season."
LCA's only loss was on the road in overtime to Division IV select state champion Southern Lab. The Lady Knights (31-1) won multiple overtime games and rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat Division II non-select champion Wossman.
"We played in a lot of tough games," Rogers said. "We beat (Division I select champion) John Curtis in overtime. We beat (Division V select runner-up) Oak Hill in overtime.
"These young ladies got after it when things got tough."
-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA
