MICHAEL KIRAL

Before hitting the court prior to many of its games this season, the East St. John girls basketball team would gather together in the squad room and be led by senior center Velinda Ard in a cheer – “Lady Cat pride!” The Lady Cats certainly have a lot of be proud of for what they accomplished in the 2000-01 season. A team record 33 victories, the last 22 in a row. An unprecedented fifth-straight district title, three of which have been undefeated. A first-ever victory in the regionals. Extending its home win streak to 59. The first River Parishes team to make it to the Sweet 16 since Hahnville in 1988. The first area team to win a game in the Sweet 16 and play in a championship final. This was a team that made it to within 32 minutes of a state championship despite not having a player over 5-10. It was a team that lost its center and top rebounder (Kovanna Reese) and top defender (Ginina Louis) of a year ago. One that had only three seniors on its roster and that started two freshmen. One that played a schedule that included Dominican, East Ascension, Mt. Carmel, Amite and Loranger. Yet, it was a team that overcame its lack of height by quickness, hustle and determination. Few gave the Lady Cats a chance to make it to the Sweet 16. But there they were, winning games down the stretch at home and at East Ascension. Each night had a different star, whether it was Courtney Drayton hitting clutch free throws down the stretch against Warren Easton or Ard scoring on two key put backs or Kinya Lennix and Danielle Stemley draining two jump shots in the final minute against East Ascension. Fewer still gave the Lady Cats a chance when they reached Hammond. It looked bleak for the Lady Cats when they fell behind by 12-4 to a Ruston team that had defeated Sulphur, Dominican and top-ranked Southwood in the playoffs. But there was the team rallying to take a 37-33 lead into halftime. Then when Ruston came back to tie the game in the third quarter, East St. John pulled away again and held off another Lady Bearcat charge in the fourth. Then came the championship game against a John Ehret team that came in on a 27-game winning streak, including a 77-52 win over Covington in the semifinals. The Lady Cats had to overcome not only a Lady Patriot team that had two players over 5-10 but also a confusion on the opening tip that resulted in a five-point swing and the loss of their second-leading scorer and leading rebounder in Kojavona Hamilton with a knee injury. But there was the team again pulling itself back in the game before John Ehret pulled away for a 51-34 win. As the team was told in the lockerroom by both principal Debra Schum and head coach Troy Giordano, there was no embarrassment in getting the runner-up trophy. Thirty-two teams made it to the playoffs in Class 5A. Thirty of them would have loved to have been in the Lady Cats position. The 11 players who made it to Hammond – Ard, Drayton, Stemley, Lennix, Hamilton, Erin Keller, Whitney Chatman, Ashley Porter, Deanna Mattos, Jada Mason and Lacresha Walker – deserve credit for persevering through all the ups and downs during the season. Credit should go to Giordano and assistant coach Bob Payne for guiding them through them and for getting them to where no East St. John team has gone before. Credit should also go to the fans and supporters of the team who followed the team to Gonzales and Hammond. And credit should also go to the organizers and volunteers of the Sweet 16. It might have been Hammond’s first time hosting the Sweet 16 but all involved handled it like seasoned veterans. So did the Lady Cats. Years from now they can look back at this weekend with fond memories of their experience. And have nothing but pride for what they accomplished.