Lady Tigers secure 24-3A playoff spot

Photo by Terrell Jessen Wharton's Jalessa Jones reaches high to block a shot during a recent District 24--3A baskeball game against Columbus. The playoff bound Lady Tigers played Needville Tuesday night and host Stafford Friday night.

WEST COLUMBIA - Wharton's girls basketball team crushed Columbia 76-38 at Roughneck Gymnasium Friday night to secure one of the three District 24-3A playoffs spots.

The league-leading Lady Tigers improved to 10-1 and played 1-10 Needville Tuesday night. Second place Stafford, which Wharton hosts Friday, was 9-2 before playing 1-10 Sealy last night.

For all intense purposes Wharton put Columbia away after the first quarter by going up 21-6. The Lady Tigers led 19-1 before Courtney Scott hit a 2- pointer with 1:22 remaining.

Wharton continued to pour it on in the second quarter and went up 38-15 at halftime.

Columbia outscored the Lady Tigers 18-16 in the third quarter to make it 56-33.

Wharton took charge again in the fourth and poured in 20 points, holding Columbia to five.

Vernequa Taylor led the Lady Tigers with 25 points. She also had nine assists and seven steals.

Junior Jalessa Jones contributed with 24 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Desurae Matthews finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Shaniqua Dogins added nine points and 11 rebounds.

Chandra Johnson scored six points and added 11 rebounds.

In Friday's other results, the Lady Spartans beat Sweeny last Friday 41- 37. The Lady Bulldogs slipped to 5-6 and played 3-8 Columbus.

Third place Royal beat the Lady Cardinals 45-25 and were 8-3 before playing Columbia who was 7-4.

Wharton completes it's district schedule next Tuesday by hosting Sealy. Sweeny entertains Columbia, Needville hosts Columbus and Royal plays at Stafford in the other three games

24-3A Girls Standings

Teams
Wharton	(16-4)	10	1	.909
Stafford	(17-12)	9	2	.818
Royal	(8-15)	8	3	.727
Columbia	(20-7)	7	4	.636
Sweeny	(15-10	5	6	.454
Columbus (11-14)		3	8	.375
Needville	(6-16)	1	10	.090
Sealy	(6-17)	1	10	.090

# Denotes clinched playoff spot
Last Friday's Results
Wharton at Columbia, late
Stafford 41, Sweeny 37
Royal 45, Columbus 25
Sealy 74, Needville 65
Tuesday's Results
Wharton at Needville, late
Stafford at Sealy, late
Columbia at Royal, late
Sweeny at Columbus, late
Friday's Games
Stafford at Wharton, 7 p.m.
Sweeny at Sealy, 7:30 p.m.
Royal at Needville, 7:30 p.m.
Columbia at Columbus, 7:30 p.m.