By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

East St. John is headed to the Class 5A playoffs, but it couldn’t spoil Destrehan’s senior night — nor its bid for a district title, for that matter.

Destrehan defended its home floor, turning back East St. John in decisive fashion with a 64-42 victory on Friday.

“They beat us in every aspect,” said East St. John coach Troy Giordano. “We shot 32 3-pointers, but we didn’t make many. We played well for maybe a quarter and a half, then we stunk it up.”

Destrehan (26-7, 9-1) finished District 6-5A play as co-champion with East Ascension.

East St. John (23-14, 4-6) led 15-9 after the first quarter, but things began to fall apart for the Ladycats from there. Destrehan tripled East St. John’s second quarter output, 21-7, to take a 30-22 lead into the half.

The second half saw more of the same. Destrehan outscored ESJ 34-20 in the second half, and never saw its lead seriously threatened.

“(Destrehan) was ready to play. It was senior night, they’re playing for a district title. We were basically a team that was there to get beat,” Giordano said.

DHS center LaDaisha Smith led all scorers with 20 points. Tawanna Lee scored 14,  and Paige Rochelle added 13.

Halle Lennix scored 15 to lead East St. John. Mechel’le Thomas scored 11. Chardey Johnson scored six.

At press time, East St. John was slotted 31st in the Class 5A power rankings, which would unofficially place them on the road against No. 2 seeded Lafayette in the first round. Official word was slated to come down on Tuesday, after press time.

Regardless, Giordano says it will be no picnicfor his team.

“It’s going to be a hard draw for a young team,” said Giordano.