By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

EDGARD — West St. John’s streak of consecutive district victories was snapped last week at East Iberville, but the Lady Rams’ run of district bsketball championships will not end thanks to a bounce-back victory Friday night.

West St. John rode strong fourth quarter defense to a 55-50 victory over Ascension Catholic (16-10, 5-3)  to clinch at least a share of the District 8-2A championship, its sixth district title in the past six years.

Jaquanna Hunter scored a team-high 13 points for WSJ (23-5, 7-1), headlining a balanced scoring effort of four double-figure scorers. JuJuan Nicholas and Maya Trench each scored 12 and Lakendra Lewis added 10 in her return to the floor after being sidelined.

The Bulldogs’ Rae’shaun Melancon scored 20 to lead all scorers. Megan Brooks and Jordynn Brown each scored 11.

The score was tied at halftime and at the end of three quarters.

West St. John outscored ACHS 17-12 in the fourth to seal up the win.

“Defensively, holding them to 12 in the fourth was the difference,” West St. John coach Lester Smith said. “We had a strong first quarter effort too, defensively. Late in the game, we were able to limit (Melancon’s) touches and keep it away from her.”

Hunter and Nicholas each came up big in the final frame, scoring six and five points, respectively.

Smith said the play of Lewis, a sophomore guard, was also a bright spot.

“She’s been out for a little while,” he said. “But she did some nice things out there (Friday). Her scoring was a big plus.”

The Rams are alone in first place in District 8-2A, after White Castle (18-11, 6-2) lost 48-46 at East Iberville Friday. Were WSJ to defeat St. John-Plaquemine Tuesday — in a game played after press time — it would mean an outright district championship. WSJ was already assured of a split crown.

Ascension Catholic was playing to force what would have been a three-way tie for first place; a win would have meant West St. John, Ascension Catholic and White Castle would each have two losses.

White Castle’s 37-36 win over WSJ on Feb. 3 represented the Rams’ first district loss in more than four years.

Trench scored a game-high 18 points in the loss. Shylar O’Bear scored 11 to lead White Castle.

WSJ trailed by one late in the fourth, but three consecutive turnovers helped turn things in White Castle’s direction.

“It’s a wake-up call,” Smith said. “At this point, we need to realize teams are always going to bring their A-games to play West St. John. We need to get off to faster starts.”