Jiya Perry leads DeSoto past San Antonio Clark, back to 6A state championship

(Featured photo by Tommy Hays)

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Locked in a back-and-forth game with a trip to the state championship on the line, there could not have been a worse time for a shooting slump.

For a near 7-minute stretch that lasted almost all of the third quarter, DeSoto could not hit a shot as their lead over San Antonio Clark faded to a 37-33 deficit.

That’s when senior guard Jiya Perry took over.

Perry snapped DeSoto’s scoreless skid when she connected a jump shot in the paint through contact and drained three free throws to help her team regain a one-point lead in the waning moments of the third.

She finished with a 15-point, 10-rebound double double and DeSoto never looked back, rebounding from its third-quarter slump to top Clark 56-47 on Friday night at the Alamodome to advance to the UIL 6A girls basketball State Championship game for the second straight season.

“We've had some times this year where we were behind and we had to rally back,” DeSoto head coach Andrea Robinson said. “One thing about these kids (though), they really learned to keep their composure. They really understand the moment. They kept their composure. They understand the runs and how the game levels out and they were able to get it together.”

PHOTOS: DeSoto tops Clark 56-47 in Texas 6A state semifinals

“Coach Robinson always talks to us about just keeping our composure even when we're locked down,” DeSoto senior guard Ja’Mia Harris said. “We're out there by ourselves, so we have to keep each other together and not leave each other.”

Clark controlled the game early by sinking a number of outside shots and converting on transition scoring opportunities early.

The Cougars, who were making their first state tournament appearance in program history, fed off the energy from a raucous home crowd and surged ahead to a 16-11 advantage after scoring the last seven points of the first quarter.

“We matched their tempo early and we came out strong firing outside really strong early. I’m really happy with how we came out,” San Antonio Clark head coach Rihana Huoy said.

“We had some costly turnovers and some offensive boards for just a little bit, but I think that DeSoto was a good matchup for us. I think that we fought hard, and they really fought. They fought to win and not to lose.”

Clark continued its hot streak behind the arc shooting 42.9% as a team on 3-pointers for the game.

But the Cougars could not come up with an answer for DeSoto’s size advantage.

The collective length of senior forwards Sa’Myah Smith and Amina Muhammad, both 6-foot-4, and 6-foot-5 senior center Tionna Herron gave the Eagles a big boost defensively, which helped hold Clark to a 37.2% clip from the floor.

“One of the things that I was telling them was ‘You have to challenge… You can't back down, you have to challenge that,’” Robinson said. “That's where Tionna Heron came in. I thought she did a really good job of really getting in down low and challenging her. (Heron) did a great job of doing that and that to me was one of the big differences in the game.”

The Eagles locked down Clark defensively and reeled off a 13-0 run to start the fourth quarter and put the game on ice.

Harris joined Perry in double figures for DeSoto with 13 points, three rebounds and two steals, while Smith added eight points and 12 rebounds. Senior forward Aaliyah Roberson and junior guard Ramsey Robledo each finished with 12 points for the Cougars.

The loss moved Clark to 35-3 overall on the year and ended the deepest postseason in the program’s history.

The Cougars entered the state tournament in the midst of a 25-game winning streak and racked up several marquee non-district victories, including wins against 5A state finalist Frisco Memorial and 6A state finalist South Grand Prairie.

“It felt great to just be recognized with these girls,” Clark senior forward Aaliyah Roberson said. “They’re like my family, so everything that I do with them is just great, and I'm just happy that we got this far.”

“We work hard, they work hard to be prepared for everything that we have. And I think that it goes to show and that's really what got us that and obviously our leadership and our talent is what got us as far as we did,” Huoy said. “I'm really proud of their efforts and I'm proud of how far they came this season and recognizing Clark and the city of San Antonio.”

DeSoto improved to - overall with the win and earned the chance to defend their state championship. Last year the Eagles beat Cypress Creek 53-37 in the 6A state title game.

The victory also adds to the Eagles’ eight-game winning streak and keeps them unbeaten against Texas teams this season.

“Honestly, it’s amazing,” Smith said. “Last year I had just seen my team win at state. This year I just want to be a part of it and relive the moment.”