GIRLS BASKETBALL: Iberia holds off Dixon upset bid to claim Frisco League Tourney title

In the semifinals Thursday, Dec. 4, Dixon had stunned top-seed Crocker 54-47, behind a 33-point eruption by freshman guard Inez Ballard. Dixon had also upset fourth-seeded Licking 44-41 in the first round.

Championship Game - Iberia 50, Dixon 47: Saturday Dixon jumped to the early lead and kept it throughout the first half. The Lady Rangers struggled against the Lady Bulldog defense and were outscored 11-7 over the first period.

The Dixon lead grew to 16-10 at the 5:20 mark of the second period after a steal and pair of free throws by Ballard. The two teams would swap baskets the rest of the half until Iberia junior forward Paige Russell closed the second period with back-to-back field goals to cut the Lady Bulldog halftime lead to two, 22-20.

Iberia would take its first lead of the second half when junior Jaylin Piggott canned a three-pointer from the left corner at the 5:22 mark. However, the Lady Bulldogs would go on a 8-2 run to end the quarter, and a three-pointer from the left corner by freshman Aaliyah Ford with three seconds remaining gave Dixon a 33-28 edge entering the final period.

Iberia outscored Dixon 7-2 to open the fourth quarter, and a driving layup by Piggott at the 6:15 mark tied things up 35-35.

After Ford canned a three-pointer to regain a Dixon lead, the Lady Rangers went on a 10-2 run and would not trail again. A conventional three-point play by P. Russell with 2:35 left made it 45-40.

Dixon made one more run when Ballard drilled a long three-pointer with 35 seconds remaining to make it a two-point game. Iberia would hit one-of-two free throws with 13 seconds left. Dixon came up court and missed a long shot at the buzzer, sealing the Iberia championship.

P. Russell had 11 points and sophomore Ansley Martin, junior Makenna Shelton and senior Ayla Russell each had 10 points for the Lady Rangers.

Ballard got a game-high 24 points for Dixon.

Championship Game

Iberia 50, Dixon 47

The individual scoring (FG-FT-TP):

Iberia (4-1): Martin 4-0-10, Shelton 4-2-10, P. Russell 3-5-11, Piggott 3-1-9, A. Russell 3-4-10, Totals 17-12-50.

Dixon (3-1): Yarbrough 1-2-4, Clubb 2-0-5, Herndon 3-0-8, Ford 2-0-6, Ballard 7-8-24, Totals 15-10-47.

The score by periods:

Dixon  11  11  11  14-47

Iberia    7  13    8  22-50

Frisco League

Tourney Scores

1st Play-In: Newburg 54, Plato 22

First Round: Crocker 71, Newburg 35; Dixon 44, Licking 41; Iberia 58, Laquey 46; Stoutland 49, Richland 47

Semifinals: Iberia 71, Stoutland 51; Dixon 54, Crocker 47

2nd Play-In: Laquey 62, Plato 30

Consolation: Richland 54, Laquey 40; Licking 50, Newburg 19

Consolation Final: Richland 48, Licking 36

Third-Place: Crocker 58, Stoutland 31

Championship: Iberia 50, Dixon 47