Lady Cats claim district title with easy victory over Grace King

By GEORGE MAHL

Sports Editor

RESERVE – They waited for six years. But, Thursday afternoon the waiting ended. The East St. John Lady Cats knocked off Grace King in four games to capture the District 7-1 championship with a 25-18, 25-23, 18-25, 25-11 victory.

“We are a very hard working team that strives for excellence,” is what outside hitter Darielle Sanders said the reason for her team’s success is.

Ashlee Cooper had 15 kills and Kierre Joseph had 21 digs in the victory for the Lady Cats.

The Lady Cats strived for excellence from the first point of game one.

East St. John jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead in the first game. A service ace from Trenise Evans gave ESJ a six point lead. Another ace from Avingnon Williams gave the Lady Cats a 12-7 lead. Grace King, however, rallied and cut the deficit to 12-11 after two East St. John return errors.

With the score tied 13-13, the Lady Cats scored seven unanswered point to hold a 20-13 lead. Cooper had three kills during the run for the Lady Cats.

After a return error giving ESJ a 21-18 lead, the Lady Cats went on to score the next four points and earn a 25-18 win in game one.

In the second game, East St. John scored five of their first seven points on return errors. Trailing 4-3, East St. John scored four consecutive points to hold a 7-4 lead.

The biggest deficit the Lady Cats faced in the first game was five.

With Grace King leading 13-10, East St. John rallied to claim a 14-13 lead after a block from Cooper.

Both teams exchanged points at the end of the first game. A kill by Joseph followed by a tip from Cooper gave the Lady Cats the 25-23 victory.

The third game saw each team have big leads only to see them evaporate.

Grace King jumped out to a 7-1 lead and then fell behind after an ESJ rally to make it 8-7 East St. John. A kill by Sanders gave the Lady Cats their first lead of the second game, 8-7.

After a kill by Joseph giving the Lady Cats an 11-8 lead, Grace King went on an 8-0 run to hold a 16-11 lead. The lady Irish began to falter, allowing East St. John to get back into the game. With Grace King leading 18-12, ESJ scored six straight points to come back and tie the game 18-18.

East St. John dominated the Lady Irish in the fourth game.

Leading 17-9, the Lady Cats went to score eight straight points to claim a 25-11 victory.

“We have waited so long for this day. It is something that we always wanted,” said Joseph.

“I think at first we were a little sluggish and then turned it up and became explosive,” Cooper said.

The Lady Cats will participate in the Country Day tournamnet today and will host Woodlawn on Wednesday in a non-district match. Woodlawn defeated East St. John in the playoffs last year.