MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 27, 2000

RESERVE – Kinya Lennix scored 33 points to lead East St. John to a 77-30victory over Riverside in the Lady Rebels Classic Saturday afternoon.

The title was the second straight for the Lady Cats in the tournament and the third in the past four years. East St. John improved to 15-3 overall whileRiverside fell to 7-5.

Lennix had 24 of her points in the first half and was named the MVP of the tournament. Danielle Stemley was also named to the all-tournament teamafter scoring seven points.

“I felt really good this tournament,” Lennix said after scoring her most points since putting up 36 at Destrehan last year. “I’m ready for district.”Crystal Rome was named to the all-tournament team after scoring 20 points for the Lady Rebels. Candice Perret contributed seven points.Riverside took an early 7-4 lead on a 3-pointer and a jumper by Rome. EastSt. John took the lead for good at 8-7 on a put back by Lennix. Lennixfollowed with a jumper, then blocked a shot and found Courtney Drayton.

Drayton hit Kojovana Hamilton on a deep pass, making it 12-7.

Another jumper by Lennix increased the lead to seven. Rome, who scored herteam’s first 10 points, had a three-point play off a drive down the lane to cut the deficit to 14-10. Lennix answered with a jumper from the left cornerto make it 16-10 at the end of the first quarter.

That lead grew to 21-10 on a put back by Drayton and a steal and layup by Lennix. Perret ended the run with two free throws but a 3-pointer from theright wing by Stemley started a 13-2 run by the Lady Cats. Lennix buriedthree consecutive jumpers and Hamilton added another to make it 32-14 with 3:15 remaining in the half.

Perret again broke the run with a jumper. But Lennix followed with a jumperfrom the left side and Erin Keller and Stemley scored on drives to make it 42-16 at the half.

Rome scored inside off a pass from Jessica Watts to make it 45-20 early in the third quarter. But Lennix then heated up again, scoring six unansweredpoints. Velinda Ard added a drive and a put back and Ashley Porter scoredoff a steal by Jasper to increase the lead to 61-20 at the end of the third quarter.

East St. John advanced to the championship game with a win over VandebiltCatholic while Riverside defeated Albany.

“That was a big win for us,” Riverside head coach Matt White said. “Albanywas playing great ball and we came in here and made them look bad.”

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