By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

After a season opening loss to St. Joseph’s (BR), the Lady Wildcats of East St. John have rebounded in a big way.

A 52-48 overtime victory on the road Tuesday at Mandeville and a 42-13 win over host Fontainebleau on Wednesday has what Wildcats Coach Troy Giordano calls his youngest team ever at East St. John soaring.

“We’re very young,” said Giordano. “The inexperience shows. With young kids, they are feeling their way, and should get better as we go along.”

East St. John (2-1) has three freshman among its top seven players and only three returning varsity players from a year ago, when the Wildcats fell in the first round of the state playoffs to Airline.

But that inexperience did not stop the Wildcats from regaining their composure after losing a lead late against Mandeville (0-1). The Skippers were able to force overtime, but the Wildcats regained the momentum in the extra frame to capture the four point win.

“It’s huge mentally for our team to go on the road, lose the momentum but find a way to win in overtime,” said Giordano.

Mechelle Thomas scored 24 points to lead the Wildcats. Halle Lennix added eight, and Laci Dent scored seven.

In the win over Fontainebleau (0-1) Wednesday, Dent led the team with 9 points while Turner scored eight. The Wildcats led from start to finish.

But the one blemish occured on Monday, as the Wildcats lost their season opener to St. Joseph’s (1-0). Turnovers, Giordano said, were the culprit in the loss.

“That’s what cost us. We need to take better care of the ball,” said Giordano.

Thomas scored 18 to lead the Wildcats, while Dent scored 11. Christin Hildreth scored five.