DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / March 25, 2000

ST. JAMES – Chandra Webster, a sophomore at Delgado Community College inNew Orleans, is driving a new car because of one free-throw basket.

Chandra was in Lafayette with her family to watch her brother, Cory Webster, and the St. James High basketball team, play in the statechampionship.

“A girl came up before the game and asked if I was over 18 and would shoot baskets at halftime. I told her I was and she asked if I knew anyone else. Ipointed out my sister (Courtney),” Chandra said.

Everyone in the stands thought they would be shooting for a color television.

It wasn’t until the sisters, and a lady from St. Bernard, stepped on the courtthat they knew a 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage priced at $14,000 was at stake.

“It was unbelievable. On one shot you could win a car,” Chandra said. They allshot first a half-court, and missed. Chandra couldn’t believe that thoughthey all had missed the shot, they got to try closer to the basket.

Nothing was made at the three-point line, so the three women stepped up for a free-throw. Chandra was up first. For a women who was shooting for14,000 points instead of two, she kept her calm and delivered.

“I thought there was going to be another one,” she said. No one else made it,and the car was hers. “I couldn’t scream because of laryngitis,” she added.Courtney translated her excitement for her as they went to check out the new car.

By the end of the game it was quite an evening for the Webster family and they were all ecstatic. “My daddy said ‘my daughter got a car, my son wonthe game and got the MVP,” Chandra said proudly.

Hampton’s Mitsubishi in Lafayette was happy to give away the car. This isthe third one they’ve given away at the Top 28 Tournament in the last four years.

Chandra now drives between her home in St. James Parish, her work inLaPlace and school in New Orleans. It seem a new car was just what sheneeded.

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