By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

East St. John appeared to be done after falling behind two games to none at East Ascension Thursday. The Wildcats, however, weren’t ready to stop fighting.

They rallied to win the third game handily, then escaped the fourth with a 26-24 victory. But the effort came up just short – East Ascension edged out East St. John in the fifth game and in the match, winning 25-15, 25-16, 8-25, 24-26, and 15-13.

It was the last district match for each team. East St. John won their previous meeting, also in five games.

East St. John Coach Monica Hebert said that after the first two games, she thought her team looked defeated. But then, one of her senior leaders stepped forward.

&#8220Lyndreise Franklin said that they knew the effort was something that had to come from within themselves,” Hebert said. &#8220She asked me to let them work it out.”

Indeed, the Wildcats (9-22, 1-9) came out with a renewed energy and played like a different team after the players only huddle.

&#8220After the game, I told them that they had no reason to hang their heads after that match,” Hebert said. &#8220They busted their butts. I told them that if we had that kind of effort all season long, the results this year would be different.”

Jolethia Byers and Brandi Bardell each chipped in six kills to lead the Wildcats. Raven Simmons added four kills, and Scotti Beth Lawson notched three.

Franklin had six digs. Bardell and Chantell Bush had six blocks each. Emily Heltz led the team with eight assists and three aces.

On Tuesday, the Wildcats traveled to Hahnville, where the Tigers are gearing up for the postseason. Hahnville was able to defeat East St. John 25-15, 25-15, and 25-17.

The Tigers (16-12, 8-1) were led by Danielle Douglas, who notched eight kills; Raven Scott and her 21 assists; and Nadia Cox, who added five aces.

East St. John actually took leads of four and five points in each of the last two games, but could not hold off the Tiger onslaught.

&#8220We just had a number of mental errors. When we blocked, it fell on our side and nobody was popping it back up,” Hebert said. &#8220We weren’t hitting to our potential there.”

That said, even if the Wildcats couldn’t finish the district season on a high note, the comeback in the East Ascension game is something to build on for next season.

&#8220They could have given in after the second game,” Hebert said. &#8220They hung in, they fought to come back and force a fifth game.”