MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 23, 1998

DESTREHAN – The Destrehan Lady Cats used a 25-point second quarter to pull away to a 66-44 victory over West St. John Thursday night in theKFC/Taco Bell Lady Cats Classic.

The Lady Cats, 3-0 on the season, will play the winner of Saturday’s Hahnville-St. Charles Catholic matchup in the tournament championshipgame Saturday at 5 p.m. West St. John, 1-1, will play the loser of thatgame in the third-place game Satur-day at 3:30 p.m.Kammi Darensbourg paced the Lady Cats, scoring from inside and outside for a team-high 20 points. Imani Davis contributed 17 points whileAmanda Spivey added 11. Maren Cameron and Diamonique Pollard eachtossed in six points.

West St. John was led by Crystal Stipe with 15 points. Ireon Bethancourtcontributed 11 points while Janoll Morris tossed in six.

Destrehan never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 7-2 led on jump shots by Davis and Darensbourg. A jump shot by Janoll Morris cut the leadto three before Destrehan went on a 6-0 run. Davis hit two jump shots andSpivey came up with a steal, tossing to Cameron downcourt to make it 13- 4. A jump shot by Niesha Green made it 13-6 at the end of the firstquarter.

Destrehan took off at the beginning of the second quarter as Cameron grabbed a steal near midcourt and took it in. Darensbourg followed byknocking down a 3-pointer and Davis hit a short jumper on the right baseline to make it 20-6. After Darensbourg and Crystal Stipe traded 3-pointers, Davis hit two more jump shots to make it 29-14.

Morris hit a jump shot from the left side to cut the deficit to 13 but Destrehan would end the half on a 9-0 run. After hitting two free throws,Spivey intercepted a pass at midcourt and took it in. Darensbourg thengrabbed a steal and passed to Cameron downcourt for another score. A putback by Darensbourg and a free throw by Davis made it 38-16 at the half.

Destrehan continued to add to its lead at the start of the third quarter.

Joevone Markey took a pass from Darensbourg underneath for a score and Spivey and Darensbourg followed with jumpers to make it 44-16.

West St. John got back on the scoreboard on a jumper by Bethancourt with4:50 left but Darensbourg answered with a 3-pointer from the right side.

The lead would grow to 62-19 at the end of the quarter on a three-point play by Spivey and a jump shot by Davis.

West St. John mounted a rally in the fourth quarter, outscoring Destrehan25-4 over the final eight minutes. Crystal Stipe and Bethan-court each hadnine points in the quarter while Donyal Stipe added five points.

“We played well,” Destrehan coach Ulysses Frontha said. “We scored welland played good defense. I was pleased with the way we played, hustlingand going after balls. Davis shot the ball well. Kammi was Kammi andSpivey came up with some big shots.”Frontha said he is pleased with the progress the team is making. The LadyCats are averaging over 70 points per game over the first three contests.

Frontha said he just needs to keep the team at the same peak and keep them playing steady.

“I knew with the team’s experience we would play good,” Frontha said.

“They came back with dedication. They want to win, they want to win badand they are doing everything they can.”Frontha said he is glad the team is getting to play in the championship game of their own tournament.

“The kids enjoy it because it is something they can call their own,” Frontha said.

ST. JAMES WINS ON FORFEIT – The St. James Lady Wildcats won on aforfeit by Clark Thursday night when Clark could not make the game due to transportation problems. The Lady Wildcats, 1-1, will play the winner ofthe Carver-Fortier game in the consolation game Saturday at 2 p.m.

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