Zachary senior guard Ava Raymond drove to the basket and scored a layup for the first points of the game.
Neville scored nine seconds later, but once Zachary went back in front two minutes later, the Broncos never trailed again. Raymond scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to put the Broncos back in the state title game for a second-straight year.
“This team’s amazing,” Zachary coach Tami McClure said. “They just go out there and they play. They’re going to compete every single day.”
No. 1 Zachary (28-3) defeated No. 4 Neville 64-46 in the Division I nonselect semifinals on Thursday in the University Center in Hammond on Thursday. The Broncos look to become repeat state champions.
Zachary led 15-8 against the Tigers of Monroe after the first quarter as Raymond scored seven points and nabbed five rebounds.
The Broncos defense held Neville to 23.5% shooting from the floor in the opening period.
“Defense always wins championships,” Raymond said. “We always lock in on defense, and it turns into offense.”
Raymond hit a reverse layup to push the lead to nine midway through the second quarter. The lead swelled to 11 after she hit another close jumper. Raymond scored 15 points in the first half and grabbed seven rebounds.
Neville (21-5) made just one field goal in the second quarter. The Broncos capitalized on missed shots to push tempo and scored 12 fast-break points in the first half. Zachary led 26-15 at halftime.
Broncos sophomore Asia Bell scored six of the team’s first eight points in the third quarter. She scored two layups and hit a pair of free throws. Bell finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
“They complement each other,” McClure said about Bell and Raymond. “When they work well together, great things will happen. It’s shown this year.”
Freshman Marcia Robinson then drove along the baseline and scored a layup through contact midway through the third. She drew a foul and hit a free throw to make it a 15-point game.
Raymond then scored a three-point play after drawing contact on a fadeaway jumper. She had 20 points after three quarters.
Zachary led 47-30 heading into the fourth quarter.
“It’s just a great mix,” McClure said about her team. “They love just love each other and love playing for each other. It’s just been a fun year.”
