Fundamentals key for Lady Tarpons

Playing a tough schedule proved to pay off for the South Lafourche Lady Tarpons this season.

The team’s pre-district schedule was made up of four of the top eight teams in Class 5A, better preparing the Lady Tarpons for District 8-5A play. When district came around, the team went rampant, finishing undefeated.

After wrapping up their first district title since 1998, the task became simple for both the team and head coach Corey Callais.

“We just wanted to be competitive in the playoffs,” the coach said. “After losing in the first round last year, we were prepared not to let that happen again. It was a lesson learned.”

It didn’t take long for the team to deliver.

In the opening round against the Chalmette Owls, the Lady Tarpons took an early lead and never looked back en route to a 59-42 win.

What awaited them after that was the No. 2-ranked Lafayette Lady Lions last Monday.

Despite trailing 26-15 at halftime, the Lady Tarpons tied the game at 37 at one point in the second half.

Their efforts, however, weren’t enough, and the Lions eventually prevailed 46-41.

Despite the shortfall, Callais said his team has nothing to hang their heads about. He said his girls set a goal at the beginning of the season, and they attained it.

“They wanted to win district and put their minds to it,” he explained. “That’s what we pulled off. It’s very exciting.”

“We made it to the second round and hung with the No. 2-ranked team in the state. No one could have expected that,” he added.

Callais believes this year’s version of the Lady Tarpons set the tone for being a constant competitor in District 8-5A. Behind his five seniors, he said this team has laid the foundation for future success.

The coach credits team chemistry, and buying into the fundamentals as the reason for the district championship.

“We like to play defense,” he noted. “Our defense was a really big key for us this year. Defense wins championships and I think we proved that this year.”

“We had girls who had been playing together for many years. When you can put a starting lineup in with five seniors, they are used to each other. That is how they play. It always makes it easier when you can do that because you can spread defenses out. That was a big reason we were so successful,” he added.

However, the loss to the Lions marked the end of the high school careers of the Lady Tarpons’ five senior starters. With Harley O’Quin, Janee Lombas, Brittney Guidry, Margo Orgeron and Lanie Charpentier all graduating, Callais knows it’ll be time for the six reserve juniors to step up.

Charpentier was the leading scorer in both playoff games, notching 14 points against the Lions and 17 against the Owls. Lombas and O’Quin each added 14 in the opening game.

Callais hopes the legacy the five seniors will leave behind rubs off on the six girls returning next season. He hopes now that they know how to win and have experienced success, the transition will be easier.

“They laid that foundation,” the coach said. “We have that taste of what it takes to win now and hopefully those younger girls will step up and continue that success. We won’t go away. We’re looking to come back next year and make a run at the district and state championship.”

The South Lafourche Lady Tarpons’ season ended last week with a heartbreaking loss to the Lafayette Lady Lions. Behind their five seniors, the Lady Tarpons wrapped up their first district title since 1998 and made it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since then. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER