The Navasota girls basketball team defeated the 8th-ranked La Grange Lady Leps 43-41 on Friday night.  The win moves the Rattlers into a first-place tie with La Grange in the District 26-4A race.

Navasota scored the game’s first basket and led until the 2:56 mark in the fourth quarter when the Lady Leps took a 41-39 lead on a pair of free throws. The Rattlers tied the game with 1:15 remaining when Cookie Leigh was fouled going to the basket and made both free throws.

The Big Blue’s defense got a stop and then sophomore Samia White hit the game winner on a 6 foot floater with 9.2 seconds remaining.

Navasota dominated in the rebound department 42-25. Porsche Jones grabbed 11 while Jakayla Jones, Sha’dimon King and Nala Richardson each pulled down seven.

King led all players in scoring with 15 including seven of eight from the free throw line.  NaLa Richardson had 8, Samia White 6, Porsche Jones 6, Cookie Leigh 4 and Jakayla Jones 4.

The win improves the Rattlers winning streak to 5 and they even their season record at 16-16.

—Tommy Gates