South Houston's Dominque Davis (2), Akira DeCoud (23) and Brianna Butler (24) join Deer Park players in stuffing the lane in anticipation of a rebound.
DEER PARK -- South Houston's surging Lady Trojans positioned themselves for a breakthrough championship in the District 22-5A basketball race with a 48-43 road upset of Deer Park on Tuesday night.
The Lady Trojans received balanced scoring from their senior-laden lineup and led the Lady Deer from the early minutes of the first quarter.
The victory lifted South Houston into a first-place tie with Deer Park. Both stand 6-2 in district play with only two games to play. The Lady Trojans close with Sam Rayburn and Pasadena High. The Lady Deer have remaining games with Pasadena and Memorial High.
Should the Lady Trojans win their remaining games, the worst they can achieve is a co-championship with Deer Park.
Senior Akira DeCoud led the Lady Trojans with 12 points, including four in a tense fourth-quarter stretch. South Houston led 44-37 with three minutes left, but Deer Park scored five straight points to pull within two.
A layup by DeCoud with 1:28 left gave the Lady Trojans a four-point lead and some breathing room. South Houston's defense held the Lady Deer scoreless over the final minute.
Seniors Dominque Davis and Jasmine Lopez added 10 points each for the Lady Trojans.
Deer Park senior Tabitha Hawthorne led all scorers with 16 points, including 10 in the second half.
South Houston is now 17-12 for the season.
South Houston's Akira DeCoud comes up with a key steal in the final minutes of the game.
Angella Gencarelli gives her Lady Trojans a timely pep talk during a timeout in the second half.
South Houston's Jasmine Lopez works the ball upcourt against Deer Park's Lyndsie LeBlanc.
South Houston's Dominque Davis pulls up and sinks a key 3-pointer as Deer Park's Michelle Linton (14) defends.
(Left) DeCoud sets a roadblock on Deer Park's Lyndsie LeBlanc; (right) Brianna Butler fights for a rebound with Deer Park's Tabitha Hawthorne.
DeCoud hits a baseline jumper in the second half.
DeCoud gets set to sink a free throw.
