Lady Oilers take out Lady Broncos

Saturday, June 24, 2017

COURT GENERAL - Pearland's Miranda LeJune (20) goes up for a layup against Port Arthur Memorial as the Lady Oilers won their first playoff game 65-43. LeJune scored six points, but more importantly, is the one who manages the flow of the game with her court awareness and sensational passing skills to setup her teammates to score. (Photo by Rick Skeen)

PEARLAND — Pearland head coach Donna Vacek was nervous about her girls facing the Fort Bend Bush Lady Broncos. These two teams met back in December in a tournament with the Lady Oilers getting a 46-38 win in that non-district meeting. Bush went on a 19-1 win streak to capture the District 23-5A title after the loss to Pearland which is why Vacek
was so concerned prior to the area round contest against the Lady Broncos.

Pearland's Taylor James set the pace for the Lady Oilers in the first quarter as she hit two 3-pointers and a basket to score eight of Pearland's 15 points. Jasmine Butler contributed two short jumpers while Keara Hudnall was 3-for-4 from the charity stripe giving the Lady O's a 15-8 advantage.

Bush woke up in the second quarter and with 3:19 left in the second period, the Lady Broncos had battled back for a 21-20 lead after outscoring Pearland 13-5.

But the lead was short lived as Pearland closed out the first half with a 26-23 at intermission.

When the Lady Oilers went into the dressing room, one of the first questions she was asking herself was where was the offense of her leading scorer Keara Hudnall.

"I was wondering where Keara was in the game," Vacek said. "She didn't score a basket in the first half and I need her to step up."

Click to enlarge.

TOP SCORER - Pearland's Keara Hudnall (00) drives to the basket against Fort Bend Bush. Hudnall led the Lady Oilers to a big win over the Lady Broncos 61-51 in the area round of the Class 5A Region III playoffs. Hudnall scored 32 points to lead all scorers while sending Pearland to the region quarterfinals against Clear Springs (late on Tuesday). Go to www.reporternewssports.com to check out the game between Pearland and Clear Springs. The winner will advance to the Region III semifinals. (Photo by Rick Skeen)

Whatever Vacek said or thought, Hudnall stepped up big time in the second half after going 6-of-12 at the free throw line in the first two quarters.

Hudnall led an offensive show that proved to be the heartbeat of the Lady Oilers as she was almost unstoppable.

While Pearland's defense allowed the Lady Broncos only nine third quarter points, Hudnall outscored the entire Bush team by herself with a 3-pointer, five baskets, and 3-for-4 from the line to total 16 points. Butler added a pair of short jumpers giving Pearland a 46-32 lead entering the final frame.

Hudnall proved that she wasn't just a one quarter wonder as she continued her assault with a basket before Bush decided to stop her resulting in 8-of-11 free throws as Pearland eliminated the Lady Broncos 61-51.

Pearland lost some early momentum in the fourth quarter as Bush got back in the game to close the gap at 52-48 with 3:00 left on the game clock.

Crystal Chidomere led the comeback for Bush nine points, but it would be Hudnall who would shut the door hitting 7-of-10 from the free stripe to help post the 61-51 final.

"I was really proud of the all the girls as this game was of great concern to me," Vacek said. "Keara really stepped it up when we needed it."

Hudnall finished with a game-high 32 points including 17-of-27 free throws. Butler tossed in 10 points while James added eight.

Chidomere led Bush with 16 points including 9-of-10 from the free throw line while Taylor Perry scored 13 points.

Vacek got excellent leadership from her court general Miranda LeJune while Laneetra Guillory, and Nikki Valencia also contributed to the crucial win to send the Lady Oilers to the third round of the playoffs.

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