HAMMOND – Timberlyn Washington scored 23 points Monday as the top-seeded Lakeview Lady Gators basketball team held off a Midland rally and prevailed 48-44 in a Non-Select Division IV semifinal game.
The Lady Gators’ 21st straight victory advanced them to Friday afternoon’s 4 p.m. state championship against a familiar foe, last year’s state champion, Arcadia. The Lady Hornets also cruised to a semifinal win Monday.
Arcadia, seeded second this year, eliminated Lakeview last March with a blowout victory in the semifinals. Lakeview has hoped to get a rematch this season on the playoff path and it will take place with the state title at stake.
Monday, Washington was, as usual, Lakeview’s catalyst. She has scored over 2,000 career points and is a two-time first-team All-State selection.
The senior hit a 3-pointer on the game’s first possession and Lakeview never trailed, opening a double-digit lead. The Lady Gators built a 24-11 halftime advantage and expanded it to 16 points in the third quarter before Midland rallied within five points entering the fourth quarter.
Washington again made plays in the final eight minutes to keep Lakeview in charge, although fifth-seeded Midland closed the gap with some decorative points in the final seconds.
Nahaje Davis and Aniyah Marshall each scored 8 points for the Lady Gators, who picked up 6 from Da’Zya Johnson.
Lakeview raised its season record to 29-4.
