Slocum Girls Hold Off Campbell 57-50 in Tenaha Holiday Hoops Action at Panola College

CARTHAGE -- Slocum's Valarie Larkin and Campbell's Haley Davidson dueled back and forth Thursday afternoon at Panola College's Arthur Johnson Gymnasium.

The duo combined for 66 points, but Larkin hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:53 left, made a key block on a Davidson fast break with a minute remaining, then hit two free throws with 28 seconds to play to ice a 57-50 Slocum victory in the Tenaha Holiday Hoops Scholarship Classic.

Larkin, a senior guard, finished with a game-high 34 points, including seven three-pointers, four of which marked her final four field goals of the game. Larkin's trey at the 1:53 mark of the fourth broke a 50-50 tie and sparked Slocum's game-ending 7-0 run.

Slocum's win spoiled a big night from Campbell's Davidson, who had 32 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Davidson hit six three-pointers for the Lady Indians, who entered the game ranked 18th in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' 1A D-II poll.

Junior Jordan Ives had 10 points, four rebounds, and two blocks for Slocum, which improved to 13-3 and is ranked eighth in the TABC's 1A D-I poll. Sophomore Katelynn Hogan provided a spark on the glass and in the Lady Mustangs' offense, finishing with only two points, but leading her team in rebounds (8) and assists (8) to accompany two blocks.

"(Larkin) is an important part, but there are other people that play key roles," said Slocum coach Miranda Lasiter. "(Ives) hit a three down here that was huge. (Hogan) is a hard worker and plays pretty solid defense, too. She's gonna do the best she can to do her job on any given night."

Campbell junior Sarah Taylor added six points and five rebounds, while Caytlin Branton -- 1 of 6 sophomores on the roster -- had five points and four boards. Fellow sophomore Jordan Davidson led Campbell with five rebounds. Slocum junior Kelsee Webb matched Hogan's team-leading eight rebounds with eight of her own.

The teams played to a tie through one quarter before Campbell gained a 24-23 halftime advantage. Slocum evened the score 37-37 going to the fourth, where it remained tied until the final two minutes of the contest.

Haley Davidson's stepback, top-of-the-key three-pointer tied the game 50-50 with less than three minutes left, setting the stage for Larkin's late-game surge.

Slocum was scheduled to play White Oak at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Tenaha's Special Events Center. White Oak beat Avery eariler Thursday afternoon in Joaquin.