Hazel Abernathy
November 12, 2007Homer Watts, Jr.
November 14, 2007
Some are thinking “rebuild.”
Others “reload.”
And a few are hungry for LHSAA gold.
The following is an in-depth preview of the action fans can expect to see from local girls’ basketball teams this winter.
Central Lafourche Lady Trojans
Coach: Mike Bonura
2006-07 finish: 5-9 (15-22 overall)
District: 7-5A
Returning starters: Christina Chiasson (Sr. guard); Kayla Hebert (Sr. guard); Kiera Smith (Jr., center)
Top newcomers: Jamie Lorel (Sr., forward); Kayla Gregory (Soph., guard); Chelsea Curole (Fresh., forward)
Strengths: The Lady Trojans have girls that can drain shots from the perimeter.
Chiasson and Hebert have been starters for three years, and Smith for two.
The team also has adequate post players.
Weaknesses: Central Lafourche graduated five seniors from its 2006-07 lineup, including Shandrika Rose, a player that averaged 10.5 points per game.
2007-08 outlook: The Lady Trojans were just a few wins removed from the postseason last year.
So this year’s goal is obvious.
“We expect to be in the playoffs,” Bonura said.
And with Ellender moving down to District 8-4A, things should be interesting.
“It will be a wide-open race,” he added.
South Lafourche Lady Tarpons
Coach: Corey Callais
2006-07 finish: 12-2 (29-9 overall)
District: 7-5A
Returning starters: Kadie Bellanger (Sr., guard); Savannah Lerille (Sr., forward)
Top newcomers: Beth Bynard (Sr., center); Janee Lombas (Jr., point guard); Harley Oquin (Jr., forward)
Strengths: Team speed, ability to step up pressure on defense and ball handling are a big plus for a team that finished second in district and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.
Bellanger averaged 8 points per game and was second team all-district. Oquin shot 40 percent from behind the arc and Lombas averaged three assists per game in her limited role off the bench.
Callais called Lerille a shut-down defensive player.
Weaknesses: Height. Callais’ tallest girl (Bynard) stands only 5-foot-7.
2007-08 outlook: Since Ellender moved out of district, Callais thinks the title is up for grabs.
“Any one of five teams can win it,” he said.
Thibodaux Lady Tigers
Coach: Damon Robinson
2006-07 finish: 10-4 (20-10 overall)
District: 7-5A
Returning starters: Bridget Brown (Sr., guard); Danielle Carter (Sr., guard); Kristen Benoit (Jr., post player); Jalissa McPherson (Soph., post player)
Top newcomers: Kyndra Davis (Sr., guard), Shaquinta James (Jr., point guard)
Strengths: With the exception of one transfer student, the Lady Tigers bring an experienced lineup to the court.
Carter was first-team all district in 2006-07. Brown was a second-team selection and McPherson and James were honorable mention.
“We have athletic girls who can shoot the ball,” Robinson said.
Weaknesses: Consistency.
“We don’t play as hard as we should all of the time,” Robinson said. “We need more intensity.”
2007-08 outlook: Thibodaux finished third in the district and lost in the first round of last year’s state playoffs to a talented Lafayette team.
“This year, we want to win district and get at least two playoff wins,” Robinson said.
Terrebonne Lady Tigers
Coach: Greg Knox
2006-07 finish: 8-8 (14-10 overall)
District: 7-5A
Returning starters: Leah Lyons (Sr., forward); Jonquail Parsee (Sr., forward); Dalmeaka Ross (Sr., guard); Alaina Verdin (Soph., guard); Sierra Lyons (Soph., center)
Top newcomers: Katie DuFrene (Sr., center); Hueshawn Small (Soph., guard)
Strengths: The Lady Tigers return the bulk of a lineup that advanced to the playoffs last year.
Verdin pumped in 23 points per game in 2006-07 en route to reaping a first-team all district nod. Lyons and Parsee earned honorable mention all-district honors as well.
The team also has a strong inside game, with Dufrene (6-foot-2) and Lyons (6-foot-1).
Weaknesses: The Lady Tigers have a short bench and can’t afford to lose players to injury.
2007-08 outlook: Terrebonne lost to New Iberia in the first round of the playoffs last year, but are optimistic about advancing further.
“Even with the small number of players we have, we’ll be competitive,” Knox said.
H.L. Bourgeois Lady Braves
Coach: Crescent Washington
2006-07 finish: 1-15 (2-25 overall)
District: 7-5A
Returning starters: Ke’arrah Jackson (Sr., guard); Cola Small (Sr., guard); Kayla Woods (Jr., forward); Cache Jones (Jr., forward); Euneka Walker (Jr., guard)
Top newcomers: Jessiona Bryant (Soph., guard/forward); Tamitrius Bryant (Fresh., guard)
Strengths: The Lady Braves return a lot of starters.
“Everyone we have is accustomed with our system,” Washington said.
Jackson averaged 12 points per game last season and was named all-district honorable mention.
Weaknesses: With the exception of Cache (5-foot-10), H.L. Bourgeois is on the small side. Players are also trying to develop winning chemistry following a season that saw them win only two games.
2007-08 outlook: The slogan for this year’s edition of the Lady Braves is “One Team, One Goal.”
“We want to shock people by making the playoffs,” Washington said. “That’s our goal.”
South Terrebonne Lady Gators
Coach: Millie Guidry
2006-07 finish: 5-5 (6-18 overall)
District: 7-5A
Returning starters: Kadie Louviere (Sr., guard/forward); Chelsea Arceneaux (Jr., forward); Tyrika Martin (Soph., point guard); Hillary Marts (Soph., guard)
Top newcomers: Alexis Theriot (Fresh., guard)
Strengths: Guidry is happy with the overall attitude of her players and their willingness to learn.
“We definitely have lots of heart and dedication,” she said.
As well as a scoring touch with Louviere, who averaged 18 points per game last year.
Weaknesses: Guidry was bedridden with a stomach virus last week. Three weeks prior, she was out with an upper respiratory infection.
She’ll have to work overtime to bring her team up to speed.
2007-08 outlook: Guidry certainly wants to win as she enters her second year as head coach.
But some things are more important.
“I really want these girls to learn the fundamentals so they can improve their games,” she said. “I’m looking forward to a positive experience this year.”
Vandebilt Lady Terriers
Coach: Kathy Luke
2006-07 finish: 6-0 (26-8 overall)
District: 8-4A
Returning players: Jordan Walker (Sr., guard); Megan Dillon (Sr., guard); Summer Leslie (Sr., guard); Amanda Graham (Jr., guard); Lindsey Griffin (Jr., guard); Taylor Crosby (Soph., guard/forward); Shikera Ross (Soph., forward); Sybil Washington (Soph., center)
Newcomers: Marcie St. Germaine (Eighth grade, guard); Tressa Lafont (Soph., guard); Whitney Williams (Soph., center); Brook Popay (Soph., guard); Bethany Gregoire (Fresh., forward)
The Lady Terriers return an entire lineup that finished third in the state last season.
“We are really deep,” Luke said.
They’re also quicker on defense and bring a good understanding of the game to the floor.
Leslie averaged 19 points, four assists and three steals per game in 2006-07 and was nominated district MVP.
Weaknesses: Luke would like to improve her team’s shooting percentage from the field, free-throw percentage and passing.
2007-08 outlook: Vandebilt isn’t dwelling on last year’s success.
The present poses too much of a challenge.
“We’re in a different district now with Morgan City and Ellender – the returning 5A state champions,” said Luke, who enters her 22nd year at the helm. “I don’t really like to look down the line at where we’ll end up. But if we get better each day, hopefully we’ll be playing for a state title when the dust settles.”
Morgan City Lady Tigers
Coach: Marris Richard
2006-07 finish: 6-8 (16-15 overall)
District: 8-4A
Returning starters: Jakia Dalcour (Jr., point guard)
Top newcomers: Brittany Hebert (Sr., forward); Shakiah Hall (Sr., center); Keelta Junifer (Soph., guard); Sabrina Allen (Jr., guard)
Strengths: The Lady Tigers have solid defensive players who like to hustle and run the floor.
Weaknesses: The Lady Tigers bring a short bench into the season after parting ways with five graduated seniors.
“We’re a small group,” Richard professed. “We have some younger players, and they don’t have any experience.”
Richard is also looking for better consistency among her players.
“Some days we come out really aggressive. On others, we just let whatever happens, happen,” she added.
2007-08 outlook: Morgan City moves down to District 8-4A, but its level of competition will be much tougher.
The Lady Tigers will be put to the test against Ellender (Class 5A state champions) and Vandebilt (third in state in Class 3A).
“We’re moving into a smaller district that contains with two big powerhouses,” Richard said. “We’re looking to come away with some wins and we’re hoping for the playoffs.”
Ellender Lady Patriots
Coach: Kenneth Dixon
2006-07 finish: 14-0 (40-3 overall)
District: 8-4A
Returning starters: Deana Allen (Sr., shooting guard); Da-Jeane Jones (Sr., forward); Asia Williams (Sr., forward); Kerry Hampton (Sr., center); Latika Smith (Jr., point guard)
Top newcomers: Kayla Celestine (Jr., forward); Kayla Johnson (Jr., center)
Strengths: Dixon returns a state championship lineup that has a lot of experience.
“These girls have been starters since they came to Ellender High School,” Dixon said.
Highlighting this list is Allen – last year’s state MVP. Allen (5-foot-9) averaged 15.6 points per game as a junior.
Williams (6-foot-2) averaged 11.2 points en route to earning her third consecutive first-team all-district nomination.
Both received attention from Tulane, Southern Mississippi, the University of New Orleans and Tulsa.
Weaknesses: “We might be a little overconfident,” Dixon said. “We need better commitment to the team and we’re going to have to work really hard this year.”
Dixon added that the team would benefit from a disciplined player to step up and become a vocal leader.
2007-08 outlook: Dixon took over a floundering program in 1992 that had only won six games in six years. Since then, he has turned it into a perennial powerhouse with 12 district championships and four state titles in six appearances. Through 15 seasons, he has constructed a 394-100 record.
Nonetheless, Dixon isn’t expecting any free rides in District 8-4A.
He’s well aware that the Lady Pats have targets on their backs.
Big ones.
“One of the worst things in the world is to go into something overconfident,” Dixon said. “We’re going to have to prove ourselves every night.”
E.D. White Lady Cardinals
Coach: Darin Fontz
2006-07 finish: 5-3 (10-19 overall)
District: 7-3A
Returning starters: Ashley Adams (Soph., point guard); Lauren Bayhi (Fresh., guard);
Top newcomers: Abby Filce (Fresh., forward); Rebekah Richard (Fresh., guard)
Strengths: The perimeter players are young, but relatively experienced.
Bayhi averaged 15 points per game and Adams netted eight. Both were all-district honorable mention selections last year.
Weaknesses: Fontz’s post players are young and inexperienced. The team also graduated three starters, including Jazmin Carter (a four-year starter that averaged 12 points per game as a senior).
2007-08 outlook: Fontz takes over the team after spending seven years as an assistant coach with the E.D. White boys’ program.
“We’re expecting our experienced players to lead us early on as we get better inside,” he explained. “The potential is there, and we hope to compete by January in time for the playoffs.”
Berwick Lady Panthers
Coach: John Menard
2006-07 finish: 0-10 (2-22)
District: 7-3A
Returning starters: Victoria Dardar (Jr., forward); Madeleine Smith (Soph., center); Christina Johnson (Soph., point guard)
Top newcomers: Donnesha Darnel (Sr., guard); Brittany Sons (Sr., guard); Courtney Carpenter (Jr., guard); Julie Morella (Soph., forward/guard); Shana Toups (Soph., guard); Nadine Fontenot (Soph., forward/guard)
Strengths: Dardar is a good defensive player. Menard said Johnson makes good decisions on the floor and Smith makes continual strides as a post player.
Weaknesses: Experience. The Lady Panthers have only two seniors. Neither were varsity regulars last season. (Darnel was sidelined with a knee injury and Sons wasn’t a regular starter.)
2007-08 outlook: Menard enters his first season as head coach with the difficult assignment of turning a floundering team into a playoff contender.
“I just want us to be better the last game than we were in the first,” he explained. “Hopefully, by the time we get to the district playoffs, we’ll have everything together and we’ll be able to make a little run.”
Patterson Lady Lumberjacks
Coach: Annette Boudreaux
2006-07 finish: 4-4, (13-15 overall)
District: 7-3A
Returning starters: Drasha Favors (Jr., point guard); Daija Hartman (Soph., forward)
Top newcomers: Lauren Francis (Jr., post player)
Strengths: The Lady Lumberjacks aren’t overly tall inside the paint, but have strong post players in Hartman (5-foot-10) and Francis (5-foot-9).
Hartman averaged more than 16 points per game in 2006-07.
Weaknesses: Patterson is short on experience at guard.
2007-08 outlook: Boudreaux returns as head coach, replacing Adrian Eagle. She brings with her 22-plus years of coaching experience at the junior and senior high school levels.
“I have coached a lot of these girls somewhere at some time,” she said.
“Hopefully they’ll improve every game. We really want to make the playoffs and see what happens from there,” she added.
File photo The Ellender girls’ basketball team will set its sights on an encore performance with a trip to the state championship this season.
