GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Odessa High clinches playoff berth

The Odessa High girls basketball team had one goal in mind.

A victory, which would pull the Lady Bronchos closer to a postseason berth under first-year head coach Sherman Chew.

That it could happen against rival Permian was just a feather in the cap.

In the end, Odessa High got everything it wanted and more.

Deoshanay Henderson was a force for the Lady Bronchos, scoring a game-high 23 points in a 37-22 District 2-6A victory Friday at the Permian Fieldhouse.

Odessa High improved to 18-14 overall, 4-3 in district.

The Lady Bronchos then got the news that Midland Legacy had defeated rival Midland High, which clinched a postseason berth for Odessa High.

“That’s what we were aiming for, the playoffs,” Chew said. “The girls played hard, they knew.

“It’s about getting ready for the playoffs now.”

Kimora Pierce led Permian (11-14, 1-6) with eight points.

The game started slowly as both teams looked for someone to step up and take control.

That turned out to be Henderson.

With the game time, 5-5, after a free throw by Pierce with 1:58 remaining in the first quarter, Odessa High got its transition offense in gear on the inbounds play and Henderson was able to beat the Lady Panthers’ defenders to the basket for a layup and a 7-5 lead.

She would drive to the basket on the Lady Bronchos’ next trip down the court and finish with a layup while getting fouled and then making the free throw for the 10-5 lead.

Permian’s Chloe Mosley finished the first quarter with a field goal and the Lady Panthers were within three (10-7) after eight minutes of play.

They cut the deficit to one point on Akiva Brown’s basket to start the second quarter, but that would be as close as Permian would be the rest of the night.

Henderson made a pair of free throws and then Paige Byford finished a fast break with a layup for a 14-9 lead.

Permian’s Bailey Wight connected on a jump shot with more than five minutes to play in the first half and that was the end of the scoring for the Lady Panthers in the quarter.

Odessa High, leading 14-11, went on an 8-0 run to close out the first half and lead, 22-11, heading into the break.

With three games remaining in the regular season, the Lady Bronchos hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with Permian after sweeping the season series.

The Lady Bronchos dominated the first meeting, defeating Permian 54-19 on Jan. 6 at the OHS Fieldhouse.

Midland High is 0-7 in district play and was eliminated from postseason contention with its loss to the Lady Rebels.

>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide

Odessa High 37, Permian 22

Friday, Permian Fieldhouse

ODESSA HIGH (18-14 overall, 4-3 District 2-6A)

Aaryn Lira 0 0-1 0, Donajah Watkins 2 2-4 6, Zenaida Ibarra 0 0-0 0, Kiarra Maxwell 1 0-1 3, Mariah Leyva 0 0-0 0, Chloe Navarro 0 0-0 0, Jadah Briones 0 0-0 0, Biyyanah Ellis 1 0-2 3, Paige Byford 1 0-2 2, Deoshanay Henderson 8 6-11 23, Sasha Cabral 0 0-0 0, Julissa Parra 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 8-21 37.

PERMIAN (11-14, 1-6)

Tasia Pryor 0 0-0 0, Caytlen Juarez 0 2-3 2, Micah Smith 0 2-2 2, Bailey Wight 1 0-0 2, Briseyda Sanchez 0 2-7 2, Akiva Brown 2 0-0 4, Dagmar Ortega 0 0-0 0, Kimora Pierce 2 4-10 8, Chloe Mosley 1 0-0 2. Totals 6 10-24 22.

Odessa High…………………. 10 12 6 9 37

Permian………………….. 7 4 5 6 22

3-Point goals Odessa High 3 (Maxwell 1, Ellis 1, Henderson 1). Total fouls 17, Permian 16. Fouled out Odessa High (Ellis). Technical fouls None.