By RYAN ARENA
Sports Editor

Despite a game-high 33 points from ESJ’s Mechel’le Thomas, Chapelle held on Friday night for a 54-46 victory at East St. John in the final pre-district game for both teams.

“Mechel’le carried us on her back. But nobody else was on,” said East St. John Coach Troy Giordano. “If someone else hits a few baskets, maybe we win the game.”

Chapelle scored eight straight points to end the third quarter, and led 38-31 entering the fourth. East St. John turned the ball over on its first three possessions of the final quarter, and Chapelle extended its lead to 11, finishing a 10-0 run.

“We had to fight from behind after that,” said Giordano. “Each team made runs, and that was a big one for them.”

The Wildcats (18-8) rallied, cutting the lead to four in the game’s waning minutes. Then a Wildcats steal in the open court seemed destined to be converted into a layup, but ESJ was whistled for a traveling violation.

Chapelle (24-3) extended its lead to six at the other end, and East St. John wouldn’t draw closer than four the rest of the way.

“That broke our momentum,” Giordano said.

The Wildcats did a good defensive job on Olivia Grayson, the Chipmunks’ leading scorer and Tulane signee who scored only 11 points.

Giordano credited freshman Korielle Tucker for playing strong defensively on Grayson for most of the night.

“She did an unbelievable job,” he said. “Grayson’s a Tulane signee, a fantastic player, and she held her in check.”

The Chipmunks needed a balanced effort to win without a huge game from their star. Kelsey Johns scored 13 to lead Chapelle. Allie Rae Sheppard added 10.

Even in defeat, Thomas was the star of the night.

“She scored in every which way,” said Giordano.

But Tucker scored five, and nobody else scored more than three.

“Right now, we’re a team waiting g on someone else to step up to help Mechel’le,” Giordano said. “If one or two of our young players step up and join her, we’ll be very competitive in district. If we have to rely on her and only her, we won’t be successful.”