HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Elliott, Lake Dallas stifles Lubbock Monterey
Jorja Elliott embraced the challenge of matching up with one of the most highly touted players in the state Friday.
And she led Lake Dallas to victory in the process.
Elliott scored a game-high 30 points in a 65-53 victory against Lubbock Monterey in the semifinals of the Region I-5A Tournament at Kay Yeager Coliseum. Lake Dallas advances to the Region I-5A final against Amarillo High or Mansfield Timberview at 2 p.m. Saturday back at Kay Yeager Coliseum.
Elliott and fellow senior Mackenzie Buss drew the assignment of guarding Monterey standout freshman Aaliyah Chavez, who has garnered plenty of attention from Division I programs. Chavez entered the matchup averaging 25 points per game but was held to 17 on 6 of 26 shooting.
Monterey shot just 32 percent as a team.
“She (Chavez) is a sensational talent,” Lake Dallas coach Jordan Davis said. “She is going to be one to watch for years to come, and I’m excited about what she will do for women’s basketball. But I think Mackenzie and Jorja just really did a great job on her defensively.”
Lake Dallas closed each of the first three quarters on strong runs, including a 10-1 run to end the first quarter that pulled the Lady Falcons even with Monterey at 17-17. Elliott scored 10 points in the second quarter, helping Lake Dallas to a 35-31 lead at halftime.
The third quarter featured runs by both teams, including an 11-0 flurry by Monterey for its only lead of the second half, 42-41, with 2:25 left in the period.
But Lake Dallas answered with a 10-0 run to finish the quarter, taking a 51-42 lead into the fourth. Monterey never got closer than that.
“It was a game of runs, but I felt like they controlled their defensive boards,” Monterey coach Jill Schneider said of Lake Dallas’ 46-31 rebounding edge. “We were one and done a lot of times when we took shots, and we shot very poorly today.
“I’ve never seen Aaliyah struggle with her shot that much. She’s a great shooter, but she struggled today. The entire team did.”
Bailey Broughton joined Elliott in double figures with 15 points, including four 3-pointers. Broughton and Elliott combined to shoot 8 of 15 from behind the arc. Buss had seven points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
Chavez had a double-double with 11 rebounds to go with her 17 points. She also had eight assists. Kelly Mora had 14 points and 12 boards for the Lady Plainsmen.
Lake Dallas 65, Lubbock Monterey 53
Lake Dallas – Mackenzie Buss 7, Bailey Broughton 15, Allie Buchanan 6, Jorja Elliott 30, Atlyn Bartley 6, Dylan Koele 1.
Monterey – Charli Garland 9, Aaliyah Chavez 17, Jazlynn Vaquera 8, Tatiana Trotter 5, Kelly Mora 14.
Lake Dallas 17 18 16 14 -65
Monterey 17 14 11 11 -53
Free throws – (LD) 15-25, (LM) 11-13. 3-pointers – (LD) 8 (Elliott 4, Broughton 4), (LM) 6 (Garland 2, Vaquera 2, Chavez, Trotter).
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Lake Dallas vs. Lubbock Monterey Region I-5A Tournament
