Aldine Davis knocks off Memorial to secure No. 1 playoff seed

Some basketball coaches welcome a respite before the postseason begins, but Tanisha Ellison and Jyusef Larry were ecstatic to have their teams on the court Friday night.

The regular-season schedule ended Tuesday, but Aldine Davis, coached by Ellison, and Memorial had a score to settle after tying for first place in District 18-6A.

On Friday night, Davis defeated Memorial 47-38 to clinch the No. 1 seed for the playoffs, which begin Monday. The Lady Mustangs will be the No. 2 seed.

The coaches had different reasons for wanting to play Friday. Memorial (18-14) won its previous game by more than 30 points so Larry said he was happy his team had a stern test before the playoffs begin.

The Lady Falcons (18-11) did not play Tuesday so Ellison is happy her team does not have to begin the playoffs after not playing a game in more than 10 days.

Beats practice

"It can be redundant when you're in practicing beating up on each other," Ellison said. "This game will prepare us for our next matchup."

Davis began Friday's game slowly but quickly picked up the pace in the second quarter. The Lady Falcons did not allow the Lady Mustangs to score a field goal in the second quarter and led 23-13 at halftime.

The teams played contrasting styles. Memorial wanted to slow it and make it a half-court game so it could utilize its 2-1-2 zone and Princeton offense.

Davis did not want to fool anybody. The Lady Falcons used their speed and athleticism to press all over the court.

The Lady Falcons turned that pressure into plenty of turnovers, which led to easy baskets.

The Lady Mustangs put together a few minutes of good play in the fourth quarter, but it was too late. Twice, Memorial had a chance to cut the lead to five points but failed because of plays made by Davis' Demitria Heard.

Nijia Young led the Lady Falcons with nine points and eight rebounds, and Jerra King also scored nine points.

Davis made the playoffs in its first season, but getting the No. 1 seed in its second season puts the Lady Falcons in another world. They will face Cypress Ranch on Tuesday at the Campbell Center.

Build tradition

"It's always hard to open up a high school," Ellison said. "A lot of times it takes you five years or so to build a tradition of winning. That's what I have been telling the kids.

"They're the first ones here so they have the opportunity to build the tradition."

Memorial has been around longer, but this season's district title is its first.

On Tuesday, the Lady Mustangs hope to win their first playoff game since 2005 when they play Cypress Falls at Cypress Lakes High School.

"We've been trying to get over that (district championship) hump," Larry said. "Hopefully on Tuesday we can get over another hump."

Corey Roepken is a freelance writer.