CLASS 5A CHAMPS!

For Ellender, it was a dream scenario to end a dream-like season. The Lady Patriots, who had been the No. 2 ranked team for most of the season earned the right to face off against No. 1 Southwood, back-to-back defending state champion, in the Class 5A State Championship Game, last Friday night in Hammond.

And for Ellender, the outcome played out just like a fairy tale, winning its first state championship since 2003 and fourth in school history.

Although Ellender did not win the way it had for most of the season—by dominating opponents—the Lady Patriots most reliable player came through in the clutch, providing a calming presence in a game that points were hard to come by.

In the a low-scoring affair, Ellender’s Deana Allen scored 12 second-half points to lead the Lady Patriots to a 37-32 win over Southwood.

And Ellender left the gym as Class 5A’s No. 1 team, while Southwood (35-4) left as the No. 2 team.

None of Allen’s game-high 14 points were as important as her final two free throws with 9 seconds left, all but clinching the game. “I felt good,” Allen said of making the free throws. “I knew I had sealed it. I just zoned everything out.”

For her contributions, Allen was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player.

Perhaps even more special—the Lady Patriots (37-3) return all but two players from this season’s team, making them an early favorite for a repeat, although next year, it will have to be in Class 4A.

Head coach Kenneth Dixon said this year’s experience will pay big dividends for next year’s squad. “Once they get this under their belt, it’s smooth sailing from here on,” said Dixon. “We’re driving down to 4A. I’d prefer to stay in 5A, because we’ve gotten used to it now.”

But being able to get a Class 5A banner to hang in their gym, dubbed the “House of Pain,” is something the Lady Patriots savor. “It feels good,” said senior Brittany Lewis. “I’ve been trying to get this my freshman, sophomore and junior years … now I got it my senior year.”

Lewis scored 11 points against Southwood.

While the Lady Patriots were sent home after the second round in the past two seasons, Lewis said this year’s squad was hungrier. “Basically, we’re just tired of going home crying,” she said. “We’ve been losing in the second round since my sophomore year. We just got tired of crying. I told them I wasn’t leaving until I get a ring.”

Getting that ring was anything but easy. “No one will ever forget that we beat Southwood,” said Dixon. “I promise you, they’re probably one of the better high school programs in the country. I’m telling you from what I’ve been watching over the years. It was an honor just to line up on the court with them, but to defeat them? Everybody will hear about that one.”

The Lady Patriots entered the fourth quarter clinging to a 27-23 lead, and early on, appeared poised to take over the game. With the score 27-25, Ellender converted on two transition layups for a 31-25 lead.

However, Southwood answered with a 7-0 run to take a 32-31 lead at the 2:24 mark. The run was capped with a Brittiany Houston three pointer.

From there, Allen converted a transition layup that followed a steal by Asia Williams. Latika Smith followed with another easy layup for a 35-32 lead at the 48-second mark.

Then with 9 seconds, Allen was fouled, went to the line and clinched the game by making both free throws. “We’ve always been told that it’s never over until the horn blows,” said Allen. “So just because they were leading, it wasn’t over. We just had to play tight defense.”

While Lewis alluded to the Lady Patriots not going home crying, they still could not avoid it this year.

Only in 2007, the Lady Patriots went home crying tears of joy.

CLASS 5A CHAMPS!