By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Having already qualified for the postseason with a win last Friday night over East Iberville, the West St. John Lady Rams approached Wednesday’s game with White Castle looking for a successful trial run on the road.

But the Bulldogs spoiled that notion, keeping their own playoff hopes alive with a 56-45 victory at home.

Erin Allen led White Castle with 14 points.

It was the final regular season game for West St. John, who will at worst finish in a tie for second place in District 9-1A.

“We did want a win to close things out on the road, since we’ll be opening up on the road in the playoffs,” said West St. John Coach Lester Smith. “But we just had a poor shooting night.”

White Castle (6-13, 3-4) led 28-16 at halftime and by as many as 20 in the second half.

But West St. John (8-8, 4-4) clawed back into it in the fourth quarter, and pulled within eight with 4:32 left in the game.

But the Bulldogs righted the ship. White Castle turned up the pressure and forced key turnovers. The Rams missed shots. And in the end, West St. John didn’t have enough time left to make another push.

Kayla Morris led the Rams with 17 points. Alicia Major added eight.

The Bulldogs did a lot of damage from the perimeter, hitting six 3-pointers in the game.