BWS Sports

CAMPTI — Rosepine’s Addison Fruge had been dealing with a lower leg injury for the better part of a month going into the playoffs.

But on Thursday night, any pain was a distant memory as Fruge drained a pair of free throws with six seconds to go, sealing the seventh-ranked Lady Eagles’ win over the second-seeded Lakeview Lady Gators in the Class 2A quarterfinals.

“Our whole team worked for this one,” Rosepine head coach C.T. Kiely said. “It was a complete team effort. The girls are just so competitive and they were going to find a way to win it.”

Battling against one of the top-ranked teams in the state in a gym where they hadn’t loss all season, the Lady Eagles proved they weren’t going to go away so easily.

After battling to a 14-14 stalemate through the first eight minutes, Rosepine gained the upperhand in the second period, using a 13-10 advantage to go into the intermission clinging to a 27-24 lead.

But behind the freshman combination of Janaiya Fisher and Timberlyn Washington, the Lady Gators made their move. After obtaining the lead, Lakeview head coach Dewaskie Fuller had his team going into the stall, holding the ball for over four minutes of the frame, eventually going into the fourth period with the Lady Gators leading, 36-33.

But back came Rosepine.

The Lady Eagles and Lady Gators were tied on several occasions during the fourth quarter, the last time at 47-47. With about a minute remaining, Nevaeh Rivera put the Lady Eagles up, 49-47, only to see Lakeview’s Saniyah Marshall make a free throw on the other end to get the Lady Gators to within one.

On the ensuing possession, Fruge managed to battle her way into the lane where she drew the foul on a shot attempt. She calmly sank both free throws to give Rosepine a three-point cushion.

Lakeview had a couple of late opportunities, but were unsuccessful as Rosepine claimed the huge road victory.

“This is such a special group of girls,” Kiely said of his Lady Eagles, who will face Rayville in the Class 2A semifinals at noon Wednesday in Hammond. “They will do whatever it takes for one another because they care so much about each other.”

Fruge and Rivera each had 17 points for the Lady Eagles, while fellow sophomore Kelly Norris added 11 points.

Fisher paced the Lady Gators with 19 points, while Washington finished with 10 points.