MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 25, 1998

DESTREHAN – Imani Davis and Kammi Darensbourg each had points to lead Destrehan to a 62-50 victory over Hahnville in the championship game of the KFC/Taco Bell Lady Cats Classic Saturday evening.

Darensbourg was named the MVP of the tournament. Davis and AmandaSpivey were also named to the all-tournament team. Joevone Markey added12 points and six blocks and Diamonique Pollard contributed 10 points for the Lady Cats who improved to 4-0 on the season.

Hahnville (3-1) was led by Keania Bethencourt with 19 points. StephanieStipe tossed in 11 points while Toyelle Rickson and Elizabeth Landry each added six points. Rickson and Bethencourt were both named to the all-tournament team.

As would be expected from a battle between the two cross-parish rivals, it was an intense game throughout. The lead see-sawed before Destrehansurged ahead 7-4 on a put back by Darensbourg and a jump shot by Davis.

Hahnville rallied, pulling ahead to a 10-7 advantage on a jump shot and a layup by Bethencourt and a jump shot from the right side by Stipe.

Destrehan answered, taking a 11-10 lead at the end of the first quarter on a drive by Darensbourg and two free throws by Davis.

Hahnville took its final lead of the game on a jump shot by Stipe to begin the quarter. Destrehan then went on a 6-0 run behind a layup by Markey anda jump shot by Darensbourg.

After Hahnville pulled to within 21-18 on a put back by Rickson and a jump shot by Bethencourt, Destrehan came back with a jump shot by Darensbourg and two free throws by Pollard to extend its lead to seven.

Stipe cut the deficit to four with a 3-pointer before Destrehan answered with a jump shot by Pollard and a drive by Darensbourg to take a 30-21 lead. Landry put back a shot with two seconds left to trim the deficit toseven at halftime.

Bethencourt grabbed a rebound and threw downcourt for Stipe to pull the Lady Tigers to within five at the beginning of the third quarter. But theLady Cats then went on a 12-2 run to take its biggest lead late in the quarter.

Davis opened the run with a jump shot from the left side. Darensbourg thengrabbed a steal and bounced a pass underneath to Maren Cameron to make it 36-25. After a Hahnville timeout, Markey scored on a put back and Davishit a jumper to extend the lead to 15. On the Lady Cats’ next possession,Davis spun in the air under the goal to save the ball to Darensbourg.

Darensbourg the passed to Markey underneath to make it 42-25.

Stipe hit a jump shot and Bethencourt drove in with a steal to cut the deficit to 44-31 at the end of the third quarter.

After Darensbourg extended the lead back to 15 with a put back at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Hahnville went on a 9-2 run to pull to within six with 4:46 remaining.

Karen Bass opened the run with a 3-pointer from the right side.

Bethencourt followed with a steal at midcourt and took it in. Ricksonadded a put back and Bethencourt hit two free throws to make it 46-40.

After the teams traded baskets, Davis helped the Lady Cats pull away with a jumper in the lane. Darensbourg then found Markey underneath to make it52-42.

The lead grew back to 14 as Markey took a pass from Cameron on the left side before Hahnville came back with a layup by Lashondria Lorio and a put back by Landry to make it 58-50 with 15.9 seconds left.Hahnville got the ball back on a turnover but Pollard came up with a block and threw an outlet pass to Markey. Markey in turn found Darensbourg for alayup. Pollard then grabbed a steal and threw to Davis underneath for thefinal points.

“We just wore down,” Hahnville coach Earl Oestriecher, whose team had beaten St. Charles Catholic, 47-26, earlier in the day to advance to thechampionship, said.

“But I have to give credit to Destrehan. They took it to us and made uswork hard. But I am proud. Any time you can go 2-1 in a tournament thisearly in the year, it is a great way to start the season.”Destrehan coach Ulysses Frontha said his team was also a little tired after having helped with the tournament all day.

“In the second half, we came back and played our style of ball,” Frontha said, adding that it was a team effort. “Everybody is doing their part.Everybody got in there.”In the third place game, West St. John edged St. Charles Catholic, 42-41,as Crystal Stipe was fouled as time expired and made both free throws.

In pool play, Carver got by St. James, 60-35 and also defeated Fortier, 75-32.

“Overall, I thought the tournament went well,” Frontha said, adding that he would like to make it a River Parishes tournament in the future.

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