The Odessa High girls basketball team needed a half to regroup and find a consistent rhythm against Lubbock Trinity Christian.
Things fell into place in the second half, as Deoshanay Henderson and Nesha Stephens stepped up to lead the Lady Bronchos to a 53-41 win in nondistrict play Tuesday at the OHS Fieldhouse.
“They came out in a 1-3-1 zone, we haven’t seen it all year but we were able to counter it,” Odessa High head coach Marcus Chapa said. “Once the girls figured it out, they pretty much settled in and that was it.”
The Lady Lions used their defense effectively at the start of the game and that opened up some 3-point shots to get an early advantage.
Odessa High got its offense going in the opening period with shots from beyond the arc from Nevaeh Carrasco and Stephens, with the latter player closing out the first period with two free throws.
Stephens was also honored with a pregame ceremony to commemorate her reaching the 1,000-point mark in her high school career.
By the end of the first half, the Lady Bronchos had more looks at the basket from fast breaks but weren’t able to capitalize.
Henderson would step in to provide a physical presence in the paint for the Lady Bronchos and she would help her team successfully set traps to force more turnovers from Lubbock Trinity Christian.
She scored 18 points of her game-high 20 points in the second half to help Odessa High clinch the victory.
Stephens added 16 points to the victory.
“She’s able to hit those jumpers, she can play big and she can play outside,” Chapa said of Henderson. “She plugs in well.”
Odessa High (8-8 overall) continues nondistrict play in the Lubbock Coronado Tournament and against Lubbock High at 6 p.m. Friday before starting District 2-6A action against Midland High at 6 p.m. next Tuesday at the OHS Fieldhouse.
Chapa said his team still has a few tweaks to make, but he was satisfied with the end result against the Lady Lions.
“We’ve got a couple more games to get into district against Midland High, but all in all we’re proud that we got a win against a really tough team tonight and that’s going to move us forward into district play,” Chapa said.
>> Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya
Odessa High 53, Lubbock Trinity Christian 41
Tuesday, OHS Fieldhouse
Lubbock Trinity Christian (2-8)
Rylee Cox 0 1-2 1, Melissa Bailey 0 0-0 0, Kiah Buchanan 4 0-0 9, Gracin Bonner 0 0-2 0, Aubrey Gaskins 1 1-3 3, Menaiya Ewing 2 2-2 7, Katie Holcombe 2 1-3 6, Annika Enger 0 0-0 0, Tayley Bullen 0 0-0 0, Bonnee Busby 1 2-3 5, Claire Simpson 3 1-2 10. Totals 13 8-17 41.
Odessa High (8-8)
Aaryn Lira 0 0-0 0, Lashay Watkins 2 2-2 6, Nesha Stephens 3 8-10 16, Kit Orozco 1 1-1 3, Valeriah Coy 0 0-0 0, Nevaeh Carrasco 1 0-0 3, Kylee Bartlett 0 0-0 0, Samantha Lopez 0 0-0 0, Paige Byford 2 1-4 5, Deoshanay Henderson 9 2-4 20, Destiny Baltazar 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 14-21 53.
Trinity Christian…… 18…. 6 11 6 — 41
Odessa High……….. 10.. 10 20 13 — 53
3-Point goals — Odessa High 3 (Stephens 2, Carrasco 1), Lubbock Trinity Christian 7 (Simpson 3, Buchanan 1, Ewing 1, Holcombe 1, Busby 1). Total fouls — Lubbock Trinity Christian 18, Odessa High 18. Fouled out — None. Technical fouls — None.
