Rusheon, Benton sweep opponents
The Cope Lady Cougars eighth-grade team and the Elm Grove Lady Eagles seventh-grade team finished undefeated in the first half of Bossier Parish middle school girls basketball district play.
The Cope eighth-graders improved to 5-0 with a 24-17 victory over Elm Grove Monday evening at Cope.
Elm Grove and Rusheon are tied for second at 3-2.
The Elm Grove seventh-graders raised their record to 5-0 with a 38-19 victory over Cope, which dropped into second place at 4-1.
Elsewhere Monday, Rusheon swept Haughton, winning the seventh-grade game 22-21 in overtime and the eighth-grade game 38-12.
Benton swept Green-acres, taking the seventh-grade game 24-16 and the eighth-grade game 31-25.
At Cope, the Elm Grove seventh-grade team’s pressure defense in the backcourt resulted in some easy baskets for the Lady Eagles.
Meagan Laboy led Elm Grove with 19 points and was also key in the defensive effort.
Dionisha Wilson added 13 points.
Chloe Walker led Cope with 10 points. Jazmyne Dawson, Peyton Brown and Alyssia Montalbano combined for nine.
Krystal Grannum scored 10 points and Keke Marshall had eight to lead the Cope eighth-graders to the victory. Mary Claire added five.
Jasmine Douglas led Elm Grove with seven points and Madelyn Elliott had six.
At Rusheon, Cecila Cruz and Destiny Thomas combined for 12 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, for the seventh-grade Lady Rams.
Chrishawna Jones scored 10 points, including the only two points for the Lady Rams in overtime.
“Angel Lars was great on defense and Shacora Jones rebounded all night,” coach Cedric Washington said.
Champagne Dennis poured in 11 points to lead Haughton. Leah Hopson and Keanna Barber combined for eight.
Coach Justin Turner said Bailee Rattanachai played great defense in the fourth quarter.
Dennis hit a free throw for Haughton’s only point in overtime.
The Rusheon eighth-grade team got 14 points from Nyakura Marzette and 10 from Artisha Reney in the victory.
Latrina Morris, Bri West, Lexia Monroe and Quianna White combined for 14.
“Areonna Gilbert has been key on defense all year,” Washington said.
Dy’unica Washington led Haughton with 10 points.
At Benton, Mackenzie McEntee tossed in 16 points to lead the Lady Tigers seventh-grade team to the win. Kaitlin Bratten, Beatrice Croitoru and Amiya Small combined for eight.
Coach Maryjo Duddy said Brittney McLelland and Malorie Gill both played “terrific defense.”
Camila Rodriguez led Greenacres with six points and Sophia Kline had four.
Kichauna West topped the Benton eighth-graders with 12 points. Kellyanna Ross helped the Lady Tigers’ cause with eight points. Sarah Chenevert was 2-for-2 at the free throw line.
Duddy said Madison Burch and Hallie Saintignan played tough defense after coming off the bench.
The Lady Mustangs rallied in the fourth-quarter with a 13-8 run but the Lady Tigers held them off.
Tia Lowe led Greenacres with seven points, Ellie Wilkes scored five, and Brooklyn McConnell and Lauren Martin had four each.
