Monroe girls down Dougherty
Photo by Scott Chancey
Scott Chancey
CORDELE — Monroe senior Lakeisha Jackson remembers her freshman season all too well in 2006-07. Considering it was winless, it’s one she would like to forget.
That memory likely faded even more Tuesday after she led the Lady Tornadoes to their first region tournament game victory in at least four years. Jackson, the team’s lone senior, scored eight of her team’s 10 points in the first quarter and finished with 22 while Monroe beat Dougherty, 48-44, in the GHSA Region 1-AAA tourney at Crisp County.
“It wasn’t about winning this for us, or even the coaches, it was about us winning this for Lakeisha,” said junior teammate Ashley Johnson, who was the other Monroe player in double figures with 13.
Jackson had even more motivation after a Monday pep talk with coach Cheryl Cheeks, who took over the team after that winless 2006-07 season.
“She just went up to me and asked me if I was ready,” Jackson said. “I just said, ‘Of course.’ Now? I’m just speechless. I don’t know what to say, this is special.”
Cheeks agreed.
“She wanted it,” the coach said of Jackson’s play. “She came out and gave it everything she had.”
Although the next team Monroe (12-12) faces is top seed and tournament host Westover (4 p.m. Thursday), the Lady Tornadoes do have reason for optimism. Monroe won the first meeting, 61-56, but then lost, 40-30.
On Tuesday, Monroe exacted some revenge against Dougherty, which ended the Lady Tornadoes’ postseason last year. Jackson saw to that, totaling 15 points by halftime. Teammate Davone Anduze, however, assured Monroe a 26-24 halftime lead with a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Dougherty, which was led by Lakandra Beeks’ 11 points, opened the second half with a strong run that tied the game at, 30-30. After that, Jackson made a three-point play and also scored on a steal and layup to help stretch Monroe’s lead to, 39-32.
The Lady Trojans, however, responded with a three-point play by Beeks and a layup shortly after by Tiara Todd for a 42-41 Dougherty lead with 1:14 left. Monroe took the lead for good on a Johnson free throw.
“We had a game plan and we didn’t execute it for the entire game,” said Dougherty coach Charlene Jackson, whose team ends the season at 11-12.
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