By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

West St. John’s Kayla Morris is picking up where she left off a year ago.

Morris scored a game high 29 points to lead the Rams over Lutcher in their opener on Tuesday, 66-36 at Lutcher.

Jasmine Young scored 16, Jaynee Gordon scored 10, and Shantell Pablo added six.

The Rams led 13-10 after a quarter, but outscored the Bulldogs 20-9 in the second and 19-11 in the third after increasing their defensive intensity.

“We were able to force some turnovers and get some easy baskets,” said West St. John Coach Lester Smith. “We ran a couple of traps, and it gave them some trouble.”

Morris’ low-post scoring was a constant for the Rams a season ago, and Smith hopes to see even more of it from the junior this season.

“I hope she can keep it up. I’d love that every game,” he said with a laugh.

Even without a scrimmage or jamboree, Smith said he expected to see his squad play well, but wasn’t sure how the finished product would look.

“It was the first test, and I’m just happy to come out with a win,” he said.

Perhaps most impressive is that despite the lack of preseason competition, the Rams took care of the basketball, only committing five turnovers.

“We didn’t turn it over. We didn’t foul them much. When you do those things, it keeps you in ball games,” Smith says.