HAMMOND – The Winnfield Senior High School girls basketball team was among the best in the state in its classification this season under first-year coach Bobby Armstrong.

But the Amite Lady Warriors were a cut above. Wednesday night in the state semifinals of the 2023 Ochsner’s LHSAA Marsh Madness Division III Non-Select Tournament, Amite solved Winnfield’s tough defense and gradually overwhelmed the Tigerettes, 59-37, at the University Center in Hammond.

The outcome halted Winnfield’s season with a final 18-10 record. Amite moved to Saturday’s state championship game with a 24-4 record.

But the Tigerettes will take their place among the very best girls’ teams in school history with the way they fought through to reach the biggest stage in Louisiana in girls’ basketball.

It just didn’t look that way often enough Wednesday night. First, the game started nearly an hour behind schedule when the previous game went to overtime. Amite came out of the gate blasting away, running to an 18-8 first-quarter lead.                  

The margin was 27-15 before the Tigerettes closed the second quarter well and trailed 29-21 at halftime. Winnfield made just 8 of 30 shots in the first half.

Amite pulled away afterwards, posting a 16-7 third-quarter advantage to make the lead 45-28, and then  cruised through the final quarter. The Lady Warriors shot 44 percent from the field for the night, while Winnfield finished at 21 percent  — just 5 of 33 after halftime.

Amite’s advantage was most acute inside. The winners posted a huge 63-41 rebounding advantage, with 30 offensive rebounds after their own missed shots.

Winnfield did have a strong showing on 3-point shooting, making 7 of 16 with five Tigerettes contributing from distance.

Helen Sapp was the WSHS leader with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Kamarie Brown scored 10. Alezea McMiller (6), Denasia Brown and Alvia Monnin (3 each), Emari Evans (2) and Ashantia Cherry (1) rounded out the scoring for the Tigerettes.

Amite had a sensational game from Hai’ley Brumfield, who scored 23, dished out 9 assists and grabbed 8 rebounds while making 4 steals and blocking 2 shots. Alasia Williams scored 12 points and collected 16 rebounds – one of three Lady Warriors who had 11 or more rebounds.

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