MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / January 25, 1999

RESERVE – One game after seeing its 32-game district winning streak end, East St. John looked to start another with a 64-46 victory over DestrehanTuesday night.

Kinya Lennix had 15 of her game-high 25 points in the second half to help the Lady Cats (17-7, 6-1) continue their three-year win streak at home.

Kovana Reese added 15 points while Ginina Louis tossed in nine points, seven in the second half, as the Lady Cats broke open a four-point halftime lead.

Destrehan (17-7, 3-4) was led by Diamondique Pollard with 19 points.

Joevone Markey added 12 points with Quinina Sinceno contributing eight.

East St. John was coming off a 55-50 loss at Central Lafourche last Fridayand struggled to a 24-20 halftime lead. Markey hit two free throws andadded a put back to cut the deficit to 26-24 early in the third quarter.

East St. John then began to pull away with a 7-0 run. Reese and VelindaArd got the run started with put backs and Louis added a 3-pointer from the right corner to give the Lady Cats a 33-24 lead with 3:25 left in the third.

Lennix then took over, scoring on three consecutive possessions on a layup and two jump shots. Pollard kept Destrehan in the game with two jumpersof her own.

After Reese and Sinceno traded baskets, Lennix hit a jumper from the right side. Louis then stole the inbounds pass and put up a quick jumper asthe buzzer sounded to make it 45-33 at the end of the third quarter.

Lennix continued to have the hot hand as the fourth quarter opened, hitting a 3-pointer from the left side. Danielle Stemley followed with a jumperfrom the free throw line to make it 50-33. Stemley and Lennix followedwith two more jump shots and Courtney Drayton hit two free throws to give the Lady Cats a 56-37 lead.

East St. John took its biggest lead at 60-39 on a put back by YoshikaTaylor. Imani Davis followed with a 3-pointer from the left side andSinceno hit two free throws to cut the deficit to 16. Pamela Winstonfollowed with a put back and Louis closed out the scoring with two free throws.

East St. John coach Troy Giordano said his team made adjustments athalftime after getting out-rebounded in the first half.

“We picked up the pressure,” Giordano said. “We had four players go to theboards in the second half. That helped out a lot.”Giordano said it was big win for the team’s confidence especially coming off the loss to Central Lafourche on Friday and facing a road trip to South Lafourche last night.

“It was huge,” Giordano said. “We had to bounce back with a good game anda win.”Destrehan coach Ulysses Frontha said his team was in the game until the fourth quarter when it had to start fouling and Markey got into foul trouble.

“We started making some turnovers and gave up some easy baskets,” Frontha said. “Markey got into foul trouble and that made a difference. Wehad to get out of our man-to-man and go to a zone. But the kids playedhard. They did what I asked them to do. They played as hard as they couldfor as long as they could.”East St. John took a 9-4 lead midway through the first quarter as Reesescored on a put back and a layup. Markey prevented further damage byblocking four shots in the early going. Put backs by Markey and AmandaSpivey gave Destrehan a 12-11 lead with 1:06 left as the Lady Cats dominated the boards in the first half.

East St. John bounced back to regain the lead at 13-12 on a jumper byLennix. Lennix then grabbed a steal at midcourt and took it in to give theLady Cats a three-point lead. Sinceno scored on a put back to make it 15-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Markey and Lennix traded baskets early in the second quarter. East St. Johnwent ahead to stay at 18-17 as Reese made the front end of two free throws with 5:37 left in the half. Reese followed with a put back, Louisscored on a layup after stealing a pass and Lennix knocked down a jumper from the left side to give the Lady Cats a 24-17 lead. Pollard answeredwith a three-point play after taking a pass from Davis inside to make it 24-20 at the half.

East St. John hosts Terrebonne Tuesday while Destrehan travels toHahnville.

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