SCOREBOARD

No. 3 South Carolina Gamecocks: 79
No. 6 LSU Tigers: 72

I’ve spent 20 years officiating games, and let me tell you, the South Carolina Gamecocks’ performance last night in Baton Rouge was a masterclass. They took down the No. 6 LSU Tigers 79-72, extending their winning streak against these cats to 18 games – a whopping 18!

Tessa Johnson was unstoppable, scoring 21 points and leading her team to victory with that clutch gene that’s reminiscent of MJ. The woman can flat out dominate on the court. And she had plenty of help – Raven Johnson added 19, Madina Okot had a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds, and Joyce Edwards chipped in with 10. That’s a team effort if I’ve ever seen one.

LSU had their chances, but they blew it. Flau’jae Johnson missed two crucial free throws with 45.5 seconds left, and that was the nail in the coffin. The Tigers also missed a staggering 10 layups and nine free throws – against a team like South Carolina, that’s just not going to cut it.

This loss has got to sting for LSU. They had the lead several times but couldn’t hold on. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the other team – they were better, and they proved it. It’s like getting outdueled by a pitching ace: you can’t win ’em all.

The Gamecocks head to No. 23 Alabama on Thursday, while LSU takes on No. 16 Ole Miss. If South Carolina keeps playing like this, they’re going all the way. As for LSU, it’s time for some soul-searching – they’ve got the talent, but they need to find a way to close out games.