By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

In 1998, Poinciana junior forward Kadesia Johnson was 4 years old.

Her Eagles are Orange Belt Conference girls basketball champions for the first time since that seemingly archaic year.

Poinciana (16-2) rallied from a seven-point deficit at the half and won despite its lowest offensive output all year.

“We didn’t want to back into it, and the way we played in the first half, we almost did,” PHS Coach Jamerson Jones said. “Credit to Liberty and Coach (Ramses) Kelly, but we let them do whatever they wanted for the first half. They took it to us and we came out flat, we just didn’t execute.

“We executed better at the end, but these girls have to realize that people bring it and come to play us.”

Johnson, who had a game-high 16 points and added 10 points and three rebounds, was as puzzled as her coach.

“I don’t know what that was, but we’ve got to step it up,” she said.

Liberty used a zone defense to muddle the Eagle offense early, and played an up-tempo game to break Poinciana’s patented press to take a 22-15 at the half. Seven Lady Chargers scored.

The lead got to nine late in the third quarter before the Eagles were sparked by center Tralonie Tisdale, who scored three buckets in a 10-0 run that extended into the fourth quarter that gave Poinciana its first lead, 29-28.

Liberty took the lead back, and when Johnson hit a putback bucket to tie it at 31, it marked the last field goal of the game. Tisdale soon fouled out and point guard Geri Navarro also was on the bench in foul trouble, but the Eagles would win the free-throw shooting contest that followed. Johnson hit a pair with 53 seconds to make it a 37-35 game.

The Chargers forced a backcourt violation and got the ball with 19 seconds left, but Felisha Lugo stole the ensuing inbound pass and hit a free throw at the other end.

Yaritza Tejada got fouled with 7.1 seconds and made the first for Liberty, but Brandii Walker (four points, 12 rebounds) rebounded the miss of the second to seal the win.

Kelila Naules led Liberty with nine points, and Stephanie Docsol had eight rebounds and two blocks.

Poinciana played Oak Ridge Friday with the chance to have a perfect record in 4A District 6 and a first-round bye at the district tournament at Celebration starting Feb. 7.

If Harmony beats Liberty at home Wednesday, the Longhorns and Osceola will tie for second in the OBC. The Longhorns began their week with a thrilling 63-61 double-overtime win over The First Academy when freshman Jodi Nestle hit a 3-pointer at the final buzzer.