MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / June 10, 2000

RESERVE – East St. John had to play without team leaders Ginnina Louis,Kinya Lennix and Kovanna Reese at times during the 1999-2000 season.

So with Lennix and Erin Keller away playing AAU ball, the young Lady Cats knew they had to step up in their River Parishes Summer League game against Destrehan Thursday night at Riverside.

Ashley Wolfe and Kojavona Esko did just that, scoring 18 and 12 points, respectively, to lead East St. John to a 43-36 victory.East St. John improved to 2-0 in league play while Destrehan dropped to 0-2.

The Lady Cats had to overcome a game-high 22-point effort by Joevone Markey. Destrehan was also playing without one of its top players inQuinina Sinceno.

“We have a lot of young players coming in,” East St. John Troy Giordanosaid. “We have to play a lot of games during the summer to prepare for thenext year.

“The league gives them a chance to learn the system and play with the older kids. It gives them playing time. You don’t always have all yourstarters so it forces you to play your younger kids and give them experience.”Destrehan coach Ulysses Frontha agreed that the league gives you a jump on the next season.

“The summer league gives you a chance to see how much better the players have gotten,” Frontha said. “That’s what the summer league is allabout – learning to play with the other kids and having fun.”East St. John jumped out to an 8-09 lead behind consecutive 3-pointersfrom the right wing by Wolfe. Markey scored twice in the paint to make ita four-point game before Wolfe buried another 3-pointer from the right corner. Wolfe then tipped in a missed free throw by Velinda Ard beforemaking her fourth 3-pointer of the first half from the right corner, making it 17-7.

“She is a pure shooter,” Giordano said about Wolfe. “If we can getconsistent long-range shooting from her during the season it will really help the team.”A drive by Esko gave the Lady Cats their biggest lead at 24-13. Markeycame back with a three-point play and a put back to bring Destrehan to within 24-18. Reonda Jasper answered with a 3-pointer from the rightcorner to make it 27-18 at the half.

The teams traded baskets at the beginning of the second 12-minute half before Markey converted a three-point play to make it 33-26. A jumper byWhitnee Chatman and a layup by Esko increased the lead to 40-28. A 3-pointer from the right corner by Wolfe made it 43-32 before Maren Cameron closed out the scoring with a drive into the lane.

In other action Thursday, McDonogh 35 defeated West St. John and Cabrinigot by Karr.

In first week action at West St. John, West St. John defeated St. CharlesCatholic, Karr defeated Destrehan, East St. John defeated Cabrini andRiverside tied Karr.

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