MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 23, 1998

DESTREHAN – Last year, fans of the Hahnville Lady Tigers could expect their team to shoot the majority of its shots from the outside.

This year, the Lady Tigers are looking to balance their attack. Hahnvillegot that balance between the front and back court in a 62-45 victory over Carver Thursday afternoon in the KFC/Taco Bell Destrehan Lady Cat Classic.

Hahnville, 2-0 on the season, advanced to play St. Charles CatholicSaturday at 10:45 a.m. Carver (1-1) will play Fortier Saturday at 9 a.m.Keania Bethencourt led the Lady Tigers with 18 points. Toyelle Ricksontossed in 15 points, nine in the third quarter when the Lady Tigers outscored Carver 24-4. Karen Bass added 11 points while Alana Lumarcontributed eight.

Carver’s Brady Simmons led all scorers with 23 points. Renatta Nelsoncontributed 10 points for the Lady Rams.

Hahnville jumped out to an early 7-2 lead behind two 3-pointers by Bethencourt. Carver rallied to take a 11-10 advantage at the end of thefirst quarter on a three-point play by Jasmine Collins.

Hahnville took the lead for good at the 6:41 mark of the second quarter on two free throws by Lumar. Rickson added a put back and Lumar took a passfrom Bass downcourt after a steal to make it 16-11.

Carver pulled to within three on a layup by Simmons before the Lady Tigers began to pull away. Bass hit a 3-pointer from the left side andcame back with a jump shot on the left baseline to give Hahnville a 26-16 lead. Three free throws by Bethencourt followed by a jump shot bySimmons made it 29-20 at the half.

Following two free throws by Nelson that cut the deficit to seven at the beginning of the third quarter, Hahnville went on a 14-0 run to take a 43- 22 lead.

Rickson opened the run with a layup and added a put back after a jumper by Bass. Bass then nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the arc and Bethencourtfollowed with a steal at midcourt, taking it in to make it 40-22.

Stephanie Stipe would hit a jump shot from the left side for the 21-point lead.

Carver finally ended its scoreless streak with two free throws by Simmons with 4:10 remaining in the quarter. Hahnville answered with aput back by Lashondra Lorio and a three-point play by Bethencourt to make it 48-24. A jumper by Bethencourt and a layup by Lorio made it 53-24 atthe end of the third quarter.

Hahnville coach Earl Oestriecher was able to play his reserves in the fourth quarter with the big lead. April Wilson would be the Lady Tigers’high scorer in the quarter with three free throws as Carver cut the final margin to 17 behind 11 points by Simmons and eight by Nelson.

“We took better care of the ball, reduce our turnovers and made more of our put backs,” Oestriecher said of the team’s play in the second half.

Oestriecher added that he thinks the team will be improved because of the offensive balanced.

“Last year, we were more of a 3-point shooting team,” Oestriecher said.

“This year, we are trying to get the ball down and to establish an inside game early in the season.

“I think we will be improved because we have a year more of experience and the complement of the outside game with better inside play will give us more balance on offense.”

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