High School

Zachary pulls away from Parkway to win Louisiana (LHSAA) Division I nonselect girls basketball state title

Third-seeded Broncos surge late to down two-time defending state champion No. 1 Parkway, 54-41, for first crown in nearly 100 years

Mike Coppage

Savannah Wilson (middle) and the No. 1 Parkway Panthers are attempting to win their third consecutive state title.
Savannah Wilson (middle) and the No. 1 Parkway Panthers are attempting to win their third consecutive state title. / Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No. 1 Parkway and No. 3 Zachary take the stage in the final game of the Louisiana (LHSAA) high school girls basketball state tournament.

The Panthers (27-2) are going for their third consecutive title when the Division I nonselect state championship game tips off at 8 p.m. Zachary (25-4) is looking to win its second crown.

Pregame

Parkway, which beat Walker and Denham Springs in last year's state tournament, eliminated No. 4 Haughton in the semifinals, 51-32. Dakota Howard and Savannah Wilson combined for 30 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and six steals. Khla Thomas (3 of 3 FG) added eight points.

The Panthers are on 15-game win streak and haven't lost since mid-December to Huntington. Parkway, which also lost to Division II nonselect state champion Wossman, avenged the Huntington loss later in the season when the Shreveport/Bossier City area rivals met in league play.

Leading Haughton, another district rival, by four points at the half, Parkway pulled away after intermission by outscoring the Bucs 9-5 in the third quarter and 20-8 in the fourth quarter. The Panthers shot nearly 70% from the field in the fourth.

Zachary nipped No. 2 Walker in the semifinals, 50-48. Cimiya Rideaux had a double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds). Ava Raymond added 17 points and seven rebounds. Tiarra McPipe finished with eight points and eight rebounds. Reese Quibodeaux (3 of 4 FG) contributed seven points.

The Broncos have won 14 of their past 15 games (lost in the last game of the regular season to Woodlawn-BR). Zachary has wins over tournament teams Oak Hill, Vandebilt Catholic, John Curtis, Midland, Haughton, Southern Lab, Bell City, Madison Prep and Oak Grove. The Broncos lost twice to Wossman.

Follow this post, refreshing frequently to receive the latest live update, with real-time reporting on scores and key plays.

First quarter

Projected starting five for Parkway: Dakota Howard, Savannah Wilson, Khla Thomas, Jasmyne Hendrix, and Zara Baker Scanlon.

Zachary trying to win its first girls hoops state title since 1927.

Rideaux put back for Zachary. 2-0, Broncos.

Mcpipe mid-range jumper for Zachary. Howard with a bucket for Parkway. Broncos 4, Parkway 4 (Zara Baker Scanlon with two for Parkway). 5:30, 1st

Zachary 6, Parkway 4 5:07, 1st

Mcpipe called for an offensive foul. Still 6-4, Zachary. 4:04, 1st

Raymond puts Zachary up 8-4. Wilson responds with a 3 for Parkway. Broncos 8, Parkway 7 3:30, 1st.

Parkway turns it over after a Rideaux bucket. Broncos 10, Parkway 7 2:50, 1st.

KP Blake fires in a 3-pointer, the first for Zachary. Broncos 13, Parkway 7 1:56, 1st.

Baker-Scanlon (four points) scores on the baseline. Broncos 13, Parkway 9 43.4 left in the first. Howard at the line for Parkway.

Howard makes two free throws. Broncos 13, Parkway 11 :30 left in the quarter

Mcpipe nails a jumper for Zachary. Howard to the line for Parkway. Broncos 15, Parkway 11 12.2 seconds left in the quarter. She makes both free throws. End 1 Broncos 15, Parkway 13

Second quarter

Broncos get a put-back. Zachary up 17-13 early in the 2nd.

Zachary crashing the boards, getting three looks at the basket but none fall, and Raymond eventually called for an offensive foul. Broncos outrebounding the Panthers, 14-7. Mcpipe tied up with a Panther. Jump ball. Still 17-13, Broncos.

Broncos 17, Parkway 15. Howard scores and swats a shot on the other end. 5:48 left in the half.

Zachary with its sixth turnover. Broncos 17, Parkway 15...now tied at 17-17. Howard with two dribbles, then a jumper. Timeout.

Zachary turns it over again. Raymond picks up her second foul. She has four points (1 of 8 FG). Howard scores. Parkway 19, Broncos 17. She has 10 points. 4:21 left in the half.

Now Parkway crashing the offensive glass. Howard has 12 points. Parkway 21, Broncos 17. And just like that, there's a 10-0 run by Parkway. Howard with another bucket. Parkway 23, Broncos 17 3:20, 2nd Quarter.

Parkway 5 of 10 FG in the quarter. Zachary has one FG this quarter. Still 23-17.

Top-ranked freshman Asia Bell with a put-back for Zachary. Parkway 23, Broncos 19....then Wilson scores for the Panthers. She has seven points. Parkway 25, Broncos 19 1:13, 2nd Quarter.

Howard draws her second charge. That wipes out a Blake bucket. Parkway up six with 42.6 seconds left...Mcpipe scores for Zachary. Parkway 25, Broncos 21 25 seconds left.

Bell draws a foul and will shoot two free throws. She makes the first. Timeout. Parkway 25, Broncos 24. Bell adds another free throw. HALF Parkway 25, Broncos 23

Five players have at least four points for Zachary, led by Mcpipe's six. Howard has 14 points and Wilson has seven points for Parkway. Howard (5 of 9 FG, 4 of 4 FT) has seven rebounds.

Parkway has 14 points off turnovers. Howard with four steals.

Third quarter

Zachary won the rebounding battle, 23-12, but only had an 8-6 edge in second chance points. Mcpipe hits a 3. Broncos 26, Parkway 25 early 3rd.

Broncos 26, Parkway 25 6:10, 3rd.

Parkway 27, Broncos 26 Baker-Scanlon to Thomas 5:15, 3rd.

Parkway 29, Broncos 26 4:23, 3rd.

Parkway 29, Broncos 28 Ayja Walker scores for Zachary 3:00, 3rd.

Broncos 31, Parkway 29 Mcpipe in double digits after she makes a 3 from the top of the key. 2:58, 3rd.

Howard (14 points) hasn't scored in the third quarter for Parkway. She goes directly at Rideaux. Draws a foul. She'll shoot two free throws. Broncos 31, Parkway 30 1:46, 3rd.

Freshman Asia Bell scores again. Broncos 33, Parkway 30. Raymond with one field goal and eight rebounds for Zachary. Mahogany Johnson scores off the bench for Parkway. Broncos 33, Parkway 32. Mcpipe steals the ball and is fouled by Howard. Broncos 34 Parkway 32 End 3.

Fourth quarter

Thomas scores for the Panthers. Broncos 34, Parkway 34 early 4th.

Blake threads the needle with a perfect bounce pass to Raymond, who gets her second field goal. Broncos 36, Parkway 34...Raymond scores again. She's on a roll now. Broncos 38, Parkway 34 5:48, 4th.

Madison Alcerro has come off the bench for Zachary and impacted the game. Broncos 40, Parkway 34 5:15, 4th.

Mcpipe with a finish and Parkway needs a timeout. She has 15 points. Broncos 42, Parkway 34 4:52, 4th.

Broncos 44, Parkway 36. Raymond with a put-back. Up to 10 points. She and Mcpipe have combined for 25 points. Howard with a 3. Timeout. Broncos 44, Parkway 39 3:46, 4th.

Broncos winning the rebounding battle, 40-21.

Wilson hits a shot from the near the free-throw line. Broncos 44, Parkway 41 3:09 to go.

Ava Raymond lighting it up. 3-pointer. Broncos 47, Parkway 41 2:16, 4th.

2:11 left: Broncos 48, Parkway 41. Asia Bell hits a free throw. Parkway turns it over.

Ava Raymond was 1 of 11 from the field at one point. She's up to 16 points and 12 rebounds. Broncos 51, Parkway 41 1:23, 4th.

Timeout. Broncos 51, Parkway 41 53.5 seconds left.

Blake misses a free throw. Misses another. Parkway misses a field goal attempt. Panthers foul. Broncos 51, Parkway 41 32 seconds left.

Timeout, Zachary. Broncos 52, Parkway 41 18.7 seconds left.

Zachary Broncos 54, Parkway Panthers 41 Final

Postgame

Mcpipe (17 points, eight rebounds, three assists) named Outstanding Player. 49-25 edge on the boards for the Broncos. Raymond (16 points, 12 rebounds). For Parkway: Howard totaled 18 points and 16 rebounds. Wilson, 11 points and three assists.

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Mike Coppage
MIKE COPPAGE

Mike Coppage is a Louisiana-based veteran reporter with decades of experience covering recruiting and high school sports for Scout, Rivals, The Acadiana Advocate and The Daily Iberian. He has been freelancing for High School On SI since 2024.

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