MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / Febuary 11, 1999

LAPLACE – Ascension of Our Lord used a strong defensive effort in defeating St. Joseph’s, 31-17, for the River Parishes Final Fourtournament championship Saturday afternoon at St. Joan of Arc.Ascension of Our Lord turned the tables on St. Joseph’s which had defeatedthe Crusaders for the regular season league championship.

“It was a good team effort,” Ascension of Our Lord coach Andree Gurdien said. “St. Joseph’s had beaten us in the regular season and we reallywanted to come back and avenge the loss.

“It was real good effort. This is a real scrappy bunch of girls who reallyplay good together.”Ascension of Our Lord never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 6-0 lead as Vanessa Eddie put back a shot and Brittany Vicknair and Heather Heltz hit jump shots. Megan Roberts’ 3-pointer from the right corner pulled St.Joseph’s to within 6-4 at the end of the quarter.

A put back by Eddie and a running jumper in the lane by Heather Gamble built the lead back to six. Roberts answered with two 3’s, cutting thedeficit to 12-10 midway through the second quarter. Ascension of OurLord came back with a layup by Vicknair and a put back by Eddie to take a 16-10 lead at the half.

St. Joseph’s got its only basket of the third quarter on a layup by Robertsoff a steal by Gaylin Ohler. St. Joseph’s turned the ball over six times inthe third quarter and got its only other point on a free throw by Leslie James.

The Crusaders extended the lead to 20-12 on a jumper by Gamble and a drive by Amanda Helm. A put back by Eddie made it 22-13 going into thefourth quarter.

Ascension of Our continued to pull away in the final six minutes. Gambletook a steal in for a layup and Heltz added two free throws and a layup to make it 28-13.

St. Joseph’s made it a 12-point game with 1:39 left on a 3-pointer fromthe right side by Courtney Hotard before Heltz came back with two free throws to account for the final score.

Heltz had seven of her team-high nine points in the fourth quarter. Eddieadded eight points while Gamble chipped in with six. Roberts led St.Joseph’s with a game-high 12 points.

Members of the tournament champion Crusaders were Kourtney Bratcher, Megan Chiasson, Vanessa Eddie, Allison Fisher, Heather Gamble, Melissa Gurdien, Amanda Helm, Heather Heltz, Natalie Lambert and Brittany Vicknair.

Ascension of Our Lord defeated St. Joan of Arc and St. Joseph’s defeatedOur Lady of Grace to reach the championship game.

In the junior varsity tournament, St. Joseph’s defeated St. Joan of ArcWhite, 24-5, for the championship. In earlier action, St. Joan of Arcdefeated Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s beat St. Charles Borromeo.

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