LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — For the third consecutive season, the Columbus Christian Academy Lady Rams basketball team will play for the MAIS 2A state championship. The Rams, who won the title in 2023, will look to reclaim the crown after losing in the state title game last year.
The Rams, 22-8, won 50-44 against Calhoun Academy in the state semifinal on Friday afternoon at Briarfield Academy and will face the winner of the other semifinal, Marvell Academy vs. Riverdale Academy, today.
“This is the third year in a row that we’ve played this deep, this is the third year getting to the championship game,” Rams head coach Billy Thomas said after the game. “We’ve been here, we know what to expect and we’ve been in big games against good teams this year that prepared us for this moment.”
As was the case in their last meeting at the North State tournament, Calhoun stuck around against the Rams. It was a one-possession game for most of the second half, with the lead changing hands five times down the stretch. The Rams got big buckets from Presley Andrews, who hit a pair of shots from beyond the arc, as well as big boards and layups from Ada Farlow, Satavia Watkins and Olivia Cantrell.
The familiarity between the two teams made for another tense matchup, but the Rams’ experience showed in the fourth quarter.
“This is the fifth time we’ve played Calhoun this year,” Thomas said of their opponent. “By the time you play your home and away, North State, against one of the top teams, it’s really hard. The girls are friends, the coach, Keith Taylor and I, are best friends. We know each other, it just comes down to which girls want it more.”
With just over two minutes left in the game, the Rams were holding onto a three-point lead when Carrie Kinard hit a big shot and then grabbed a steal on the ensuing possession for Calhoun. The Rams were able to run the clock out from there and secure a spot in the championship game for the third year in a row.
“We’ll stick around and watch the next game,” Thomas said. “We’ve played Marvell, we beat them at North State, and Riverdale has been the no. 1 team in the state this year. We’re excited but we’ll get some rest (Friday night) and have an early morning practice and shootaround. We’ll be ready to play.”
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