By RYAn ARENA

Sports Editor

After Lutcher jumped out to an 8-0 lead over district foe St. Charles on Friday night, it became clear that the Bulldogs would have liked nothing better than to deal a fatal blow to the rival Comets’ district championship dreams.

Instead, not only did the Comets show just how intent they were on keeping those dreams alive, but the team saw them realized – though there’s still work to do.

The Comets (20-11, 5-1) outscored Lutcher 40-19 from that point to clinch at least a share of the District 9-3A crown, topping the Bulldogs 40-27 at Lutcher.

SCC entered the game in a tie for first place with Plaquemine, believing it would have to win its next two district games to preserve at least a share of the district title.

But due to Brusly’s Friday night win over the Green Devils (now 5-2 in district play), the Comets can do no worse than a tie for first, and can clinch the district title outright if they can come away from Brusly’s gym with a win this Friday.

It is the first district championship for the SCC girls team since 1996.

“We’ve been focused on simply winning out, and not worrying about what these other teams do,” said SCC coach Nolan Louque. “We knew if we do what we need to do, we’d at least finish tied for first. Now, we’re in the ideal situation. With a chance to win outright.”

Brooke Becker scored 24 to lead all scorers against Lutcher.

Essence Peterson led Lutcher with 10 points.

Comets coach Nolan Louque said the victory came with a big time assist from Rachael McNulty, who came off the bench and provided a lift for her club.

“She fired us up,” said Louque. “She made a couple of steals, hit a few baskets. She was a little sparkplug for us. Good things tend to happen when she gets out there.”

McNulty finished with six points.

The Comets turn their eight-point deficit in the early minutes into a 16-14 halftime lead.

When St. Charles saw starting forward Kacie Braud leave the game with foul trouble in the third quarter, McNulty again came off the bench, and it was more of the same for SCC, which pulled ahead to a 29-19 lead after three quarters.

“We look at (McNulty) as a sixth starter for us,” said Louque. “When we put her in, we’ve got a lot of speed in the backcourt.”

The Comets were able to spread the floor in the fourth quarter and work the clock. Defense and proficiency from the line closed things out from there for SCC.

“Everyone did a great job defensively. They scored eight quick ones…to hold them to under 30 points for the game says a lot about the way our girls played.”