Lady Terriers work to defend title

Vandebilt Catholic coach Kathy Luke said she’s been asked the same question approximately 1,000 times throughout the offseason: how difficult is it to defend a state championship?

Her answer is simple. She doesn’t know. Because with virtually a brand-new starting five and a sophomore and junior-laden roster, she doesn’t feel like this year’s team is defending last year’s successes, but is rather making its own mark.

“Everybody’s asked us that,” Luke said. “I guess we have a bulls-eye on us. I’m sure we do. But we’re not defending anything. Last year’s team is not here. We graduated five seniors from that team and they were five seniors that led that team. So this is not a situation for these girls where we’re defending anything. We’re trying to form our own identity with this team.”

The Lady Terriers’ roster is turned upside down from last year’s dominant group that was led by collegiate players like Theresa Plaisance, Shikera Ross and Sybil Washington.

But this year’s bunch isn’t too shabby either, especially in the paint, where they are led by junior Leah Washington and sophomore D’Arcy Draper.

Washington is no stranger to the Vandebilt family, because she is the sister of last year’s forward Sybil Washington and previous Lady Terriers’ great Bethany Washington, who went to Mississippi State.

Where the younger sister had to yield playing time with Plaisance and Sybil in the paint last year, she’s been able to shine with it now being her turn, recording several double doubles to start the season.

“Leah knew in the beginning of the year that she’d be called on to fill her sister’s spot, because her sister had graduated,” Vandebilt forward Jasmine Howard said. “And so far, I’d say she’s doing it.”

Sophomore D’Arcy Draper agreed and said the junior has really assumed a leadership role with what is a senior-free Vandebilt team.

“She plays well, she leads well, she’s just great,” Draper said. “She’s just like a mother on the court, because she cares about us so much. She’s just someone that’s really good to look up to because she’s equally good on and off the court.”

Finding someone to look up to was a must for the team’s second primary post player, Draper, who is in her first year with the school after transferring from Country Day High School in New Orleans.

The 6-foot-3-inch player said she didn’t know what to expect being with Vandebilt, except that they were very good.

“I did play against Vandebilt at Country Day and we got it handed to us,” Draper said with a laugh. “But oh yeah, it feels good to be on this side of the scoreboard now and to be winning.”

Howard shared in her teammate’s sentiments and said one of the biggest reasons for the team’s strong post play is Draper’s quick ability to learn new surroundings.

“There’s a lot we’ve had to teach her,” Howard said. “But she’s catching on really well. She’s doing her best and we’re really pushing her, so it’s fun. Every game she just gets a little bit better. It’s exciting to see.”

What’s doubly exciting for Lady Terriers fans to see is the team’s early start to the season.

Vandebilt has rolled to a dominant start, winning seven-straight games to open the season, including a 64-42 win against previously-unbeaten Terrebonne Thursday night.

With the season still young and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association cutting practice time for team’s throughout the state, Luke said she believes the best is still yet to come.

“I don’t see this team really starting to come into their own until mid-to-late January,” she said. “Which is a good time.”

So with the question of how to defend a state championship still unanswered, the Lady Terriers keep moving forward and collecting wins thanks to their strong paint players.

Because although the Terriers might not know how to defend one, they do know how to win one and they understand that success has its origins in the paint.

And although the Lady Terriers have been good, Luke wants to see her big bodies toughen up as they ready for another state run.

“If we don’t have good post play, we won’t go where we want to go at the end of the year,” Luke said. “Our post players have got to understand that it starts inside-out. A lot of teams don’t believe that, but that’s our philosophy here. You’re going to be good in the post and if you’re good in the post, teams will sag in and your guards can have all the shots they want. It starts inside the paint and until Leah Washington and D’Arcy Draper and Jasmine Howard get that into their mindset, we’re not going to be playing for that championship, and that’s ultimately what we want to do, play for another state championship.”

Vandebilt Catholic sophomore D’Arcy Draper puts up a layup in the Lady Terriers’ recent win against Terrebonne. Draper has boosted the Vandebilt post play in her first season with the school. CASEY GISCLAIR