Klein Forest vs Spring
I expected this game to be close and also a battle until the very end and I wasn’t disappointed as Klein Forest hangs on to beat Spring 59-52 in a district match-up between two teams looking forward to making the playoffs, something I don’t recall Klein Forest ever doing and something Spring hasn’t done since the Williams twins graduated in 2006, yes I’m good!
Keylantra Taylor scored 6 of KF’s early points as they led 8-5 early in the ball game. One of the reason was because of their defense, keyed by Desiree Davis who took two early charges along with getting a couple of steals. Spring came back with a 6-2 run ignited by ultra-athletic Khalisha Lee and a 25 footer at the buzzer by Alex West gave Spring a 16-10 lead after one quarter. Ebony Parker opened the second quarter with a three pointer, however Spring answered every time KF made a run and extended the lead to nine, 36-27 at the half. Lee and West were the leading scorers for the Lions at the half with 10 and 7 respectively, while Ekiya Gray’s 10 and Taylor’s 8 led the Lady Golden Eagles.
Lee opened the third quarter with a lay-up giving Spring their biggest lead of the game and now their defense was giving KF some problems as they forced some turnovers. Then it happened! The “youngstas” went to work as Parker, Gray and Regina Harris, all freshmen, along with sophomore Davis, closed the quarter tied at 39 after putting together succesful sequences on both ends. Although Spring had the early lead in the fourth quarter, 43-40, Parker goes to work with back to back threes, giving KF their first lead since the opening quarter 46-43. Spring comes back with a 5-0 run after Lee’s acrobatic and-one, but that was their last lead they would have as Parker continued to be in “the zone”, hitting a jumper on the baseline, video included, another three pointer and a lay-up, as KF took a big step toward making the playoffs with this early district win. Lee was amazing and also the leading scorer for the Lions with 18 points. For Klein Forest, Parker led the way with 23, Gray 16 and Taylor 11, while Davis added 5 assists.