Arcadia gets payback with decisive win against Oakdale for Division IV non-select title

Top-seeded Lady Hornets avenge bitter defeat to Lady Warriors in last season's semifinals

HAMMOND, LOUISIANA - Arcadia High dished out some payback in Friday's Division IV non-select girls basketball championship game.

The top-seeded Lady Hornets, who were eliminated by eventual champion Oakdale on a last-second shot in the 2023 semifinals, ruled the second half en route to a 48-32 win over the Lady Warriors in the rematch at the University Center on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University. 

It was the eighth state title for the Class 1A Bienville Parish program.

"No one knows how we felt," Arcadia coach LaKinya Currie said of last year's 47-46 loss. "We've been looking back at that moment. Every practice, I would tell them, 'Oakdale is working. What are you doing?'"

Arcadia players get set to accept the Division IV non-select championship trophy after the Lady Hornets defeated Oakdale on March 1, 2024

Currie lit a fire under her team at halftime. The Lady Hornets (32-3) got a 6-0 run to go up 18-12 in the second quarter, but Oakdale answered with six consecutive points. DeAsia Alexander's jumper, the freshman's first bucket, gave Arcadia a slim 20-18 advantage at intermission.

"I had some words for them," Currie said. "It looked like Oakdale was out-rebounding us. They were getting all the loose balls. We were getting outhustled."

Arcadia outscored the Lady Warriors 13-4 in the third and 15-10 in the fourth quarter. Most Outstanding Player Justice Young scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half. The 6-foot senior grabbed 19 rebounds (10 offensive), made 5-of-8 field goals and 6-of-8 free throws.

Arcadia's Justice Young was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Division IV non-select title game March 1, 2024

"We went to the person who has been dominant all year," Currie said of Young. "I'm really proud of these young ladies. We came out a little scared at first, then we got comfortable with the game-plan, which was to take No. 12 (Oakdale forward Emani Young) out of the game by preventing her from catching the ball."

Emani Young, who was averaging a team-high 16 points per game, finished with seven for Oakdale (27-8). Senior guard Akeelah Hudson scored 13 of her 15 points in the first half. Kaylee Bradley added eight points.

The second-seeded Lady Warriors, who missed 18 of their first 19 shots in the second half, shot 19.7% (12-of-61 FG) for the game.

"Justice Young is a beast," Oakdale coach Renotta Edwards said. "She is a monster. I thought our game plan was good, but when you have a player like her who is so talented, and we're undersized, there is only so much you can do.

"No excuses. They outrebounded us by 24. We dared someone else to step up and they did. No. 4 (Arianna Williams) had 12 points and 10 rebounds."

Arcadia defeats Oakdale: Live updates, score of Louisiana (LHSAA) girls basketball Division IV non-select state championship (3/1/2024)

Williams, a freshman point guard, scored five points in the pivotal third quarter. Sophomore Ryhanna Abney added eight points and six rebounds. Ja'Kyria Cockerham, Jayla Menendall and Alexander each scored four points. Alexander had 11 rebounds, eight blocks and three steals.

"I'm harder on (Williams) than anybody," Currie said. "A point guard is supposed to run the floor and run the show.

"I told her she had to step up. that she has the skills and can't be stagnant. She did really well."

Oakdale will return three of its four top scorers, who were averaging a collective 48 ppg. The group was held to 32 on Friday.

Hobson, the lone senior, accounted for almost half of the production. Forward Jolie West picked up two quick fouls, played limited minutes and eventually fouled out.

Oakdale made 2-of-22 from beyond the arc. Arcadia, which missed its only 3-point attempt, outrebounded the Lady Warriors, 56-32, with 25 offensive boards, 24 points in the paint and 23 second-chance points.

"My heart is full because I'm so proud," Edwards said. "There is no standing tradition of state championships at Oakdale. These girls created it. They started it.

"We have eight freshmen coming in. It means the world that we started something together."

Arcadia will graduate two seniors in Cockerham and Justice Young. The roster included one junior, two sophomores, three freshmen, two eighth-graders and a seventh-grader.

"We'll still be contenders," Currie said. "We'll have a hard road because we won't be able to just give the ball to Justice. DeAsia will have to step up. She can't run away from the ball.

"We have some good players coming up from the elementary school. I do believe Arcadia is back on the map. When you see Arcadia women's basketball in the future, don't be surprised."

Arcadia holds up the Division IV non-select championship trophy March 1, 2024

Photos by Buck Ringgold 

-- Mike Coppage | @SBLiveLA