Lady Rebels outlast Palo Duro to take control of 3-5A race

Getting to the top of District 3-5A has required the Tascosa Lady Rebels to trust experience, composure, and players who have already lived through big moments. Friday night’s showdown at Palo Duro was the clearest example yet of how much that approach has paid off.

For much of the second half, Tascosa looked like it was on its way to a comfortable win. The Lady Rebels built momentum after halftime and stretched their lead to double digits early in the fourth quarter. But Palo Duro, a young and hungry team with playoff aspirations of its own, refused to fade. The Lady Dons erased the deficit with a furious run, flipping the game into a tense finish that demanded poise and shot-making.

That was when a senior answered the call.

With Tascosa trailing by a single point inside the final two minutes, Alex Carter delivered a sequence that defined the night. She knocked down three deep 3-pointers in crunch time, each one shifting the pressure squarely back onto Palo Duro. The first gave Tascosa the lead, the second created breathing room, and the third effectively sealed a 47-42 victory that pushed the Lady Rebels alone into first place in the district standings.

Carter finished with 19 points, matching fellow senior Devaeh Johnson, who carried the offensive load for long stretches earlier in the game. Johnson was especially effective in the second and third quarters, helping Tascosa recover from a sluggish start and take control before the dramatic finish ever became necessary.

The game did not begin smoothly for the Lady Rebels. Palo Duro jumped out to a 14-5 lead after one quarter, using energy and confidence on its home floor. That spark faded temporarily as Tascosa responded with a 14-0 run to open the second quarter. By halftime, the Lady Rebels had steadied themselves and grabbed a narrow lead, then widened the gap in the third quarter behind Johnson’s scoring.

Early in the fourth, Tascosa appeared firmly in control at 36-24. Palo Duro had other plans. The Lady Dons ripped off a 14-0 run to seize the lead, fueled largely by Zeinab Deng, who scored the majority of her team-high 18 points in the final quarter. A free throw gave Palo Duro a brief one-point edge and set the stage for Carter’s late heroics.

The win was about more than just one night. It reflected lessons learned from a heartbreaking one-point loss at Amarillo High a week earlier, a game that tested Tascosa’s resolve. That experience showed up when things tightened late, as the Lady Rebels stayed composed instead of panicking.

Now sitting at 28-3 overall and 13-2 in district play, Tascosa controls its destiny. A win in Tuesday’s regular-season finale against Lubbock Coronado would clinch the outright district title and the No. 1 seed in the 5A Division I playoffs. Even without that result, the Lady Rebels can finish no worse than tied for the top spot.

The playoff berth is already secure. The seeding, and a district championship, are now firmly within reach.