BY GEORGE MAHL

Like the boys, some of the local prep girls basketball teams have gotten off to solid starts. Here is a quick glimpse at how the girls teams have done thus far.

St. James High School

VACHERIE – Under second-year coach Cary Culler, the Lady Wildcats have exceeded the expectations of some already. Despite having poor performances against Vandebilt High School and Cabrini High School, the Lady Wildcats have won several more games this year than the previous year.

“I think we’re going to start putting some wins together this year,” Culler said.

The Lady Wildcats (6-7) return to action today when they host Immaculata High School. They begin district play Jan. 14 when they host E.D. White High School.

St. Charles Catholic High School

LAPLACE – The Lady Comets are a tough team to figure out.

They recently played twice against Redemptorist High School. The first game saw the Lady Comets play well, but come up short in losing 32-31 to the Lady Wolves. Two weeks later, SCC came out flat against Redemptorist and fell 58-41.

“We were up by five in the first game and lost. In the second game, they just played better than we did,” head coach Erin Remondet said.

SCC begins district play Jan. 17 against Lutcher High School.

East St. John High School

RESERVE – The East St. John High School girls basketball team is having more early season success than is the boys squad.

Head coach Troy Giordano has the Lady Cats off to a fantastic 16-2 start. Moreover, ESJ is ranked as one of the top-three Class 5A schools in south Louisiana.

The Reserve school’s team played well recently in the Dauphine (Ala.) Tournament, where they defeated Briarwood (Ala.) High School 71-30.

Reserve Christian School

RESERVE – Like the Reserve Christian School boys team, the RCS girls team is off to a fast start.

The Lady Eagles post a record of 19-5 with district play set to begin Jan. 17 against Mount Herman High School. The Class 2A Lady Eagles recently earned a tough 49-46 win over Carver High School, a Class 4A school.

Trennell Smith, who is currently averaging more than 20 points per contest, led all scorers in the game with 26 points. Prior to the Carver victory, RCS dominated Phoenix High School 66-18.

Phoenix’s head coach surrendered with 6:18 left to play when she did not have any bench players. The upcoming schedule for the Lady Eagles includes games against White Castle High School and perenial power Ellender High School.

Riverside Academy

RESERVE – The Lady Rebels are off to a decent start this year. Recently, RA picked up a 53-42 non-district victory over Ridgewood High School in Reserve.

Senior point guard Crystal Rome led all scorers with 21 points. Following the Shake ‘N Bake Tournament, Riverside will open district play Tuesday against St. Martin’s High School, followed by a Friday game with rival West St. John High School.

Hahnville High School

BOUTTE – When two of the top teams in District 6-5A post a combined record of 26-3, its should send a message saying other teams must be consistent winners in order to keep up.

So far, Hahnville High School is doing so. The Lady Tigers most recent performance, against St. Scholastica High School, may be a sign of things to come. Despite Cashmir White, the Lady Tigers best player, being held to only six points, HHS rolled to an impressive 70-52 victory. Flora Scott, a star on the Hahnville volleyball team, had 15 points in the win.

Destrehan High School

DESTREHAN – The Destrehan Lady Wildcats post an impressive 10-1 record thus far. It would seem the Destrehan squad is on its way toward bigger and brighter things.

Led by Mississippi State University-signee Ashley Sentimore, the Lady Wildcats play three of their first four district games at home. DHS plays Tuesday against Thibodaux High School and Friday against Central Lafourche High School. However, a key early season game on the schedule appears to be the Jan. 21 game at East St. John.

It is possible the winner could claim first place in the district.

West St. John High School

EDGARD – The West St. John Lady Rams have had mixed reviews thus far in the early 2002-03 season. They defeated Phoenix High School, then lost to St. James High School, and, most recently, defeated Boothville High School.

WSJ head coach Lester Smith and his team play rival Riverside Academy on Friday and after that contest West St. John will only have only four home games remaining.

Their most recent performance was a 52-32 victory over Ecole Classique High School. The victory improved the Lady Rams record to 4-4 on the season.

Lutcher High School

LUTCHER – Things will be likely be difficult in district play for the Lutcher High School Lady Bulldogs in the next several weeks.

With only one player, Brandi Derbigny, having any varsity experience, the Lady Bulldogs will likely experience some growing pains early in the season. They face Donaldsonville High School on Jan. 14, followed by St. Charles Catholic High School, and an improved St. James High School team.

“I think if we can go 3-1 against SCC and St. James we’ll be OK,” said Lutcher head coach Patrick Ricks.