Zachary hadn’t led in more than 22 minutes Saturday when the defending Division-I champion inbounded the ball with 16 seconds remaining.
But coach Tami Reynolds-McClure said she had no doubts where the ball was going or that the Lady Broncos would be leaving Southeastern Louisiana’s University Center as back-to-back Division-I Non-Select champions.
“We’re gonna win,” she said bluntly when asked her thoughts in the moment. “We’re gonna win. I knew when (senior Ava Raymond) got the ball in her hands, when she came down the court, she crossed that girl over, did her signature move, slide to the middle — boom! Back. Goal. Score. I knew it.
“She was not gonna lose this game. She was not gonna leave this gym without a win. I knew it.”
The McNeese State signee, the lone returning player from the 2025 lineup, did exactly that, rising to the occasion with the game-winner in the lane in the final seconds, and then helping her teammates disrupt and deflect Slidell’s ensuing inbound to clinch the 52-51 victory.
This article will be updated with further details and quotes…
