Bastrop falls to Anderson in hotly contested game for district title

Bastrop's Keyaira Limuel (11) scores underneath surrounded by a trio of Anderson defenders.

By Jim Irish

Photos by Dustyn Werner

The Bastrop girls basketball squad — enjoying its best season in school history — misses Zo’nai Cook.

Cook, a 5-foot-1 dynamic freshman point guard, has missed 10 consecutive district games with a knee injury, which will require surgery. The Bears, who have established a single-season school record 31 wins, managed to win eight of the 10 without Cook.

The two losses have come against District 24-5A rival Anderson, the latest at home Friday in a hotly contested contest 61-56. Sweeping Bastrop, Anderson captured the district title.

Cook unable to compete in playoffs because of knee injury

Cook is a lightning quick athlete who leads the team with 13 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.2 steals per game.

Bastrop's Navaeh Jones (24) fires a short jumper

Without Cook’s defense, passing. and scoring, the Bears (31-4, 11-2) are not the same team. She makes her teammates better but will not be available in the state playoffs.

For just a freshman, Cook has the ability to “see the (entire) floor,” Bastrop coach La Barbera Roberson said.

Nevertheless, Bastrop played evenly with Anderson (19-11, 12-1) until deep in the fourth quarter.

Playing only her third game of the season recovering from knee surgery, Keyaira Limuel scored six consecutive points on two put backs and a short turnaround jump shot for a 54-52 lead with 4:48 remaining in the game.

Anderson, which relies on its 3-point shooting, was then boosted by consecutive long range shots from Lucy Swanson and Nonye Muoheme to gain a 58-54 advantage with 3:21 left.

"I think it changed the momentum. So the girls were able to refocus and get back to the plan."

-- Anderson coach La Tonya Counter about team's two consecutive 3-pointers

Limuel cut it 58-56 with two free throws, but Anderson countered with a layup by Mya Counter and a free throw by Muoheme.

”I think it changed the momentum,” Anderson coach La Tonya Counter said about the two consecutive 3-pointers. “So the girls were able to refocus and get back to our plan.”

Bastrop guard Alaysia Williams (5) looks for an opening against Anderson's Mya Counter

Counter said the plan was defense. Anderson threw a 2-3 zone at Bastrop with a full-court press, which resulted in 26 turnovers, eight by Alaysia Williams, Cook’s replacement at point guard.

”The situation required it. I felt it was necessary with the (loud Bastrop) atmosphere,” Counter said about full-court press.

Bastrop scored eight consecutive points on inside baskets — four each by Limuel and Navajo Jones — to start the third quarter to retake the lead 35-32.

Roberson directed her guards most of the game to look inside to Limuel and Jones but “they didn’t listen.” With Limuel and Jones both at 6-foot-1, Bastrop had a superior height advantage.

Bastrop's Limuel led all scorers with 24 points

Limuel finished with a game-high 24 points and scored all eight Bastrop points in the fourth quarter. She also earned a double-double with 10 rebounds. But she struggled at the free throw line in the first quarter missing all five attempts.

Kenadee Lawhon (right) releases a long range shot

Jones also achieved a double-double with 11 points, a remarkable 22 rebounds, and two blocks.

Kenadee Lawhon sank 4-of-13 from long range for 12 points.

Williams tallied eight points and eight rebounds.

Bastrop completes district at McCallum on Tuesday. It beat McCallum 59-37 in the first district encounter

The Bears will likely face Hendrickson, third in District 24–5A, in the bi-district round.

Jim Irish is a freelance writer in Bastrop, Texas