City 4-A Girls : Parson Comes Through in Kennedy’s 61-52 Win

Time was running out on Stacy Parson. The Kennedy High School senior guard was having yet another forgettable performance in a big game. She disappeared into the dressing room at halftime with just five points.

Parson purged the sour memories of playoffs past, however, scoring 18 points in the second half to lead Kennedy to a 61-52 victory over Washington in the City 4-A girls’ final Friday evening at the Sports Arena.

“I knew I had to get with it,” Parson said of her halftime thoughts.

The win gave Kennedy (22-2) its first City title since 1981 and qualified the Golden Cougars for next week’s Southern Regional tournament. Washington finished at 22-5.

By her own admission, Parson, an all-City selection last season, had not played well in last week’s semifinal or in a loss to Locke in last season’s final. When she made just 2 of 7 shots in Friday’s first half and Kennedy was fortunate to be tied at 23-23, Parson’s last chance at a City title appeared to be slipping away.

Washington scored the first three points of the third period, but Parson countered with two free throws. After a three-foot hook shot by Washington’s Natasha Norris, forward Diane DeCree scored five straight points to give Kennedy only its second lead of the game.

Parson made two more free throws and a layup after receiving a crisp pass from Wyndee Bailey to stretch the lead to 34-28, and the advantage only grew from that point.

“No girl in the City can handle Stacy Parson,” Kennedy Coach Craig Raub said. “And once DeCree got active inside, it was clear we were the better team.”

Washington forward Daynell Brown was effective early in the game, but was called for her third foul with 3:44 left in the first half. Brown, who had 12 points, picked up a fourth foul midway through the third period, about the time Kennedy took a commanding lead.

Demetra Johnson led Washington with 16 points, and Ayesha Brooks had 13 points and 9 rebounds.