Ascension Catholic holds off Hanson Memorial Lady Tigers

DONALDSONVILLE _ Rae’Shawn Malacon and Daija Harvin combined for 30 points, leading the No. 16-seeded Ascension Catholic Lady Bulldogs to a 46-35 win over the No. 17 seeded Hanson Memorial Lady Tigers here Thursday in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association bi-district playoffs at the Ascension Catholic High School Gym.
The Lady Bulldogs secured a 17-10 lead in the first quarter before earning a 25-16 advantage at the half. In the third quarter, Ascension Catholic went on a 13-8 run to take a 38-24 cushion.
During the fourth quarter, Hanson’s Allyssa Young and Ascension Catholic’s Malacon traded baskets to spark their respective clubs.
Young helped the Lady Tigers trim Ascension Catholic’s lead to 10 points at 38-28 on a short jumper before Malancon buried a 3-pointer to send the ACHS Lady Bulldogs outfront by a 41-28 margin with 3:45 remaining.
Young later drained a trey of her own a short time later, bringing the Lady Tigers back to within 10 at 41-31 with 3:15 left to play.
Malancon answered with a running jump shot which enabled Ascension Catholic to widen its lead at 43-31 with 2:38 to play.
Down the stretch, Hanson’s Stephanie Roig bagged a bank shot before Ascension Catholic connected on free throws to hang on for the 46-35 victory.
Haley Bollinger led the Lady Tigers in scoring with 15 points on a pair of treys, four deuces and 1 of 4 free throws. Allyssa Young finished with seven points while Roig and Sarah Sonnie tossed in four points apiece. Casey Fitzgerald bagged a three-pointer while Baylee Young recorded two points.
Malancon poured in 20 points while Harvin added 10 points to propel the Lady Bulldogs.
The Hanson Lady Tigers finished the season with a 17-12 overall mark and a 6-4 District 7-1A record.