Triggs posting fat stats for Thibodaux

Terrebonne hoops struggling, fighting hard
January 22, 2014
Andrea Fleming
January 22, 2014
Terrebonne hoops struggling, fighting hard
January 22, 2014
Andrea Fleming
January 22, 2014

Sweat is still slowly running down the face of Thibodaux High School junior guard Jewel Triggs’ face on Friday night as she quietly walks out of the Lady Tigers’ locker room.

Thibodaux soundly defeated Terrebonne on this night – a game that was over well before halftime.

But Triggs didn’t play nearly her best game in the win, scoring just a handful of points – the cause of the young woman’s ire as she slumps out of the locker room, into the adjacent hallway and back onto the gymnasium floor.

“You wanted to talk to me?” Triggs says with a light smile, clearly not pleased with the way she played.


The interview starts light – a few softball questions are asked about the Lady Tigers’ 2013-14 team to soften up the unhappy interviewee.

“I like this team,” Triggs says in a less serious tone when asked about Thibodaux. “I love my teammates.”  

But when the conversation shifts and Triggs is asked about that infamous week back at Vandebilt Catholic last spring, the smile hardens back up, and the uneasiness returns.

“I really don’t want to talk about that,” Triggs says on the first attempt.

A second question, this time worded a little differently – a common journalistic trick used many times by this veteran reporter seeking a different response in the second go-round.

Same result. Another denial.


“Can we just like not talk about that, please?” Triggs again says, this time looking down as she speaks.

It is obvious that the events of March 1, 2013 (and the days prior) still are a bit of a sore spot in the young lady’s heart.

And perhaps rightfully so.

While with the Lady Terriers last season, Triggs was placed at the center of a prep basketball mega-story that ended in local heartbreak when Vandebilt was ordered to forfeit its spot in the Class 4A State Semifinals just mere minutes before they expected to play a game with St. Michael’s.

It is worth stating that Triggs did absolutely nothing wrong in the incident, which stemmed around paperwork and a home address not matching up to the LHSAA’s liking. This inconsistency made the young woman ineligible for competition with the school after a week-long court battle that swung back and forth like a pendulum based on the court in which the hearing was held. As a program that played an ineligible player, Vandebilt had to forfeit all of its wins for the 2012-13 season, thus removing them from the playoffs minutes before their scheduled game.

The outcome of the melee thrust Triggs into a tough spot – a situation that would be difficult for any adult to handle, much less a high school sophomore. It’s why the entire thing is still tough for her to talk about today.


But instead of folding and giving into the negativity, Triggs has decided to thrive.

Now 10 months later, Triggs has regained her eligibility and has traded in her blue and gold for the purple and gold of Thibodaux.

But while the colors are a little different, the on-court output is the same – if not better.

Now a junior, Triggs is one of the highest scoring players in the Tri-parish area for a Lady Tigers team that is destined to make waves in the playoffs.

She may not want to speak about the ordeal last spring, but Thibodaux coach Damon Robinson doesn’t mince words when he says that Triggs’ handling of the situation has been “perfect,” adding that he “couldn’t be more proud” of his player.

“She’s showed so much character and so much toughness,” Robinson said. “Not too many people in her shoes would be able to bounce back like she has to do the things she’s doing.”


 

‘SHE STAYED FOCUSED AND STAYED BUSY’

In her nearly 13-minute interview, Triggs hardly offered a single word about Vandebilt Catholic, nor her departure from the program.

The only thing she said about the school was that she doesn’t regret being a Lady Terrier.

“I learned a lot of things about life there,” Triggs said. “Coach (Kathy) Luke was a good coach to me. She taught me about basketball. She taught me about life, and she taught me to be a better person.”

But Robinson said he knows that the forfeiture and departure was “very tough” for the young woman and her family.


“She has a great support system with her parents and some people close to their family,” Robinson said. “They all did this together.”

To combat the stress, Triggs did what she knows best – played basketball, according to Robinson.

The coach said that Triggs’ played AAU basketball all summer – something he thinks was key to her fighting everything going on in the periphery.

“It kept her mind off of a lot being able to play some AAU ball,” Robinson said. “Going to different camps also helped, of course. She stayed busy. That was the most important thing. She stayed focused and stayed busy.”

As that hectic summer drew to a close, Triggs enrolled at Thibodaux in the fall. She immediately joined the girls’ basketball team and was reunited with Robinson, who had helped coach Triggs for a practice or two when she was in Biddy ball.

Robinson described the young Triggs as a kid with glasses who was “tall, but awkward.”


“She wasn’t what she is today – not at all,” Robinson said with a laugh. “She was getting there.”

If anyone watches the on-court production, it’s easy to see why Robinson is pretty pleased with the progress Triggs has made.

 

‘WHAT YOU SEE ON THE COURT IS NICE, BUT SHE’S A HARD WORKER, TOO’

Coming from Vandebilt to Thibodaux, Triggs immediately had two significant hurdles to overcome.

The first was culture. As with any child moving from one school to the next, the young woman needed to make new friends and be comfortable meeting new people.


Success.

“I’ve made a ton of new friends,” Triggs said. “It’s gone really smooth. I like it here.”

Next was X’s and O’s.

With the Lady Terriers, Triggs was a part of a half-court offense that focused on a slower tempo, defensive effort and post play. Triggs was a sophomore on a team filled with seniors – her looks at the basket were limited.

At Thibodaux, the Lady Tigers run the exact opposite offense, utilizing a fast-break scheme predicated heavily on pressure defense.

Now a junior, Triggs isn’t the young kid on the block – she is one of the experienced players on a Lady Tigers’ team that is glistened with several underclassmen.

Again – success. Robinson said Triggs has molded nicely into Thibodaux’s system.

“It’s been a transition for her because we’re asking her to have more responsibility on the basketball court than she’s ever had before,” Robinson said. “What Vandebilt does and what we do is different. Our styles are different. She’s taken it on in stride. She’s come in and been a very great fit.”


One of the reasons for the seamless transition is Triggs’ work ethic. Robinson said that from her first day on Thibodaux’s campus, the junior standout has been fully committed to the team.

The coach said Triggs worked hard in the weight room to build muscle, which has allowed her to handle an increase in minutes and responsibility.

Triggs said she has also worked hard in the gym to polish up her game.

The result is a more complete, more talented combo guard who has quickly evolved into one of the top prep players in the area.

Triggs is among Thibodaux’s scoring leaders – a sure-fire lock to be on the All-District team.

With one full season left to play at the prep level, Triggs is already receiving looks from colleges around the country eager to score her collegiate services.


“What you see on the court is nice, but she’s a hard worker, too,” Robinson said. “That’s the most important thing we talk about when we mention Jewel – it’s that work ethic. She’s always been willing to work hard and do the things we’ve asked.

“We don’t get transfers here often, but she’s been a blessing. We’ve been so glad to have her.”

 

‘NOW, WE JUST WANT TO WIN’

Triggs has no idea of Robinson’s kind words as she hastily wipes the sweat off her brow and continues with the borderline annoying interview at hand.

With a firm line drawn in the sand regarding Vandebilt questions, Triggs loosens up a tad, easing into a world where all questions are now going to be strictly about Thibodaux basketball.


“I understand, I understand,” she says with a smile once it’s explained that the story would include some details from last spring. “But I want to talk about my team.”

The team Triggs mentioned is choked full of talented players – a squad capable of winning the Bayou District Championship.

The Lady Tigers sit with a 14-4 record at press-time, including a 5-1 mark in district play. The lone loss was this week at Destrehan – the team currently in first place with a 6-0 record.

But that game was on the road. The two teams have another date on Feb. 7 – this one will be in the Lady Tigers’ home.

“We can beat them,” Triggs said. “We just have to execute a little bit better and play a better overall game.”

The thought of beating Destrehan seems to have caused Triggs to forget momentarily her subpar showing against Terrebonne – a rare off game in a season filled with gems.


It’s brought that fire back into the young player that Robinson calls “super competitive.”

“She loves to compete,” Robinson said.

But most importantly, when Triggs is thinking of the future, it means she is not looking back at the past – and all of the obstacles that have come with it.

Triggs may never open up publicly and share her thoughts about what happened last spring.

At this time, that seems to be what makes her most comfortable.

With a new team, new goals and a refined skillset, this Thibodaux junior seems to be focused on letting her play on the floor to all of the talking on her behalf.


With how the season has gone so far, who could argue with that?

“I’m here now,” she said with a smile, while peeking out the locker room hallway to watch some of the boys’ game that has now started. “Now, we just want to win. We have the pieces we think we need. Now, we just want to use our talents like we believe we can.”

Thibodaux High School junior guard Jewel Triggs (10) attempts a running layup in traffic during the Lady Tigers’ blowout win against Terrebonne last Friday night. Triggs transferred to Thibodaux from Vandebilt where she spent the past few seasons. In her first year in purple and gold, Triggs has posted solid numbers and is one of the top prep players in the Tri-parish area.

CASEY GISCLAIR