by George Mahl Sports Editor

VACHERIE – It was a difficult year for several St. James High School teams in 2003. The boys and girls basketball teams endured hardships during the first couple of months of 2003.

The boys basketball team finished with a 4-4 district record (6-20 overall) and made the playoffs. However, they were eliminated by Redemptorist in the first round, 93-59.

For the most part, the Wildcats were led by Nick Narcisse and Desi Steib.

First-year head coach James Smith struggled early on during the season, but improved as the season went on.

The girls team never got off on the right foot in 2003 nor in any other season former head coach Cary Culler was present. The Lady Wildcats won a total of seven games during the 2002-2003 season.

In the Spring, the boys baseball team played well under head baseball coach Shane Trosclair. The team swept the Lutcher Bulldogs and finished in second place in a competitive 10-3A district. However, the Wildcats were knocked out in the bi-district round of the playoffs by Kaplan.

In the fall, the football team featured several young and inexperienced players. It was also a difficult time for the St. James football team off the field because of the absence of head football coach Rick Gaille, who missed most of the season because of illness. The volleyball team struggled as well in 2003. The team played in a competitive district in which they finished in fourth place.

On the scholarship front, defensive back Desi Steib and lineman Jason Paul Lewis signed athletic scholarships with Minnesota and Louisiana Tech respectively.