BY GEORGE MAHL

LAPLACE – The St. Charles Catholic High School Lady Comets have struggled lately and it showed in a recent contest. After having played a good first quarter, the Lady Comets became sluggish and inconsistent in losing 54-28 to St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

Throughout the first quarter, STA staring guard Candance Parent seemed to be scoring at will. She scored nine of her team’s first 11 points to give the Lady Falcons a 15-10 lead at the end of the first.

It went from good, to bad, to worse from the home team. An 8-0 spurt to begin the second quarter put the Lady Falcons up 25-10 with about three minutes left in the half.

St. Thomas Aquinas’ defense also turned it up in the period. The Lady Comets had trouble with the STA press, which forced several turnovers. In fact, the LaPlace team did not make a bucket in the second quarter until 1:52 remaining in the half. Heather Heltz’s three-point basket made the score 25-13 Lady Falcons.

STA only allowed five points in the quarter. As the second half progressed, it was more of the same for St. Charles Catholic. Several steals by STA resulted in many easy layups for the 2A school.

Dawnielle Rollette’s steal led to any easy basket, which made the score 33-15 St. Thomas Aquinas. On their next possession, SCC starter Kelly Cupit hit a jumper making the score 33-17 St. Thomas Aquinas with 3:34 left in the third quarter.

Unfortunately for the Lady Comets, Cupit’s basket would be the only points they would see for the entire quarter.

Rollette’s 3-point play, near the end of the quarter, put the game out of reach at 38-17. Another steal led to another easy basket for the Hammond school.

This time Parent stole the ball and turned it into another three-point opportunity for St. Thomas Aquinas.

Parent’s layup and foul was the final big blow in a disappointing defeat for the Lady Comets.

A 6-0 run during the final 1:33 was the only bright spot for the Lady Comets in the game. Top scorers for St. Thomas Aquinas included Lindsey Day (19 points) and Parent, who finished with 14 points.

Cupit led all Lady Comet scorers with six. St. Charles Catholic will return home Jan. 21 against E.D White.