Women’s Basketball: Baggett extends family legacy

Bruce Brown, Daily Advertiser, April 23, 2012

IOTA — Allison Baggett was playing tennis the other day — "I’ve gotten into a tennis craze," she said — and if she had more time with that sport, few would bet against her becoming formidable on the tennis court.

But it is Baggett’s life on the basketball court that has shaped her life and mapped out her future.

The 2012 Advertiser All-Acadiana Most Valuable Player propelled Iota’s Lady Bulldogs to a 34-4 record this season, a campaign that ended with a loss to powerful John Curtis in the Class 2A championship game at the LHSAA Top 28 in Ruston.

Once known as the kid sister of twins Caitlyn and Ashlyn, who led Iota to back-to-back state titles and paced McNeese to a pair of Southland Conference crowns, Baggett became the go-to player at Iota.

"If you compare the freshman me to now, I would kick her butt," Baggett said.

"I didn’t have as much experience or understanding of the game. Now it’s like I’ve got the polish put on me. I’ve seen a big difference as a player and as a person.

"I’ve worked hard. There have been a lot of 1-on-1 sessions in the gym. I’ve learned how to dribble and to shoot, and my knowledge of the game is 10 times better than it was.

"The freshman me would not have done what I was able to do in the Pickering game. I would have been skittish. But the senior me said, ‘This is it. It’s time to wake up.’ I had that knowledge of what had to be done."

Against Pickering in the semifinals in Lake Charles, Baggett scored 18 of her game-high 30 points in the fourth to spark a 59-53 comeback win.

When she hit her only 3-pointer of the contest, it lit a spark that carried the team to victory.

Indeed, Baggett was the leader on each step.

Just as her trey against Pickering provided spark, the Lady Dogs’ early-season 61-23 win over Notre Dame gave the season a lift.

"That game was our big-time changer as a team," Baggett said. "Before the game, we started beating on lockers and screaming and hollering. Then we went out and beat them by 40. After that game, every second, every point counted."

The season was the final one for seniors Baggett, Anna Lege, Caroline Hebert, Dominiqua Thomas and Adalie Wriborg, one that went beyond being teammates.

"A lot of people don’t know what that is," Baggett said. "We’d been having sleepovers since we were 5. Our bond was even stronger. We’ve always been together.

"Just before the John Curtis game, it was hard, because, win or lose, we knew this was goodbye. We tried to give Curtis a good game, but they were just too strong."

The Lady Dogs emerged from the final timeout with tears.

"You wish you had gotten that ring, that trophy, but I don’t regret a moment of it," Baggett said. "We gave everything we had to give. What better way to go out?"

Baggett pumped in 30 points in that 55-42 defeat.

Although finished with high school basketball, Baggett will continue at her career UL. "I’m expecting a huge challenge, but I’ve never been more ready," said Baggett, who scored 48 points in two games against Lafayette High. "I will be playing at a new level.

"Everyone’s got things they can improve on. Whatever it is, I’m going to do it."