By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

EDGARD — West St. John remained undefeated this week by notching blowouts victories over South Plaquemines and L.B. Landry, wins coming on the heels of an impressive performance at the West Jefferson tournament.

The Rams trounced South Plaquemines 75-26 and downed Landry 55-18 on Monday and Tuesday respectively.

West St. John (11-0) led 27-2 after a quarter against South Plaquemines (3-5) and never looked back. Jaylyn Gordon led the way with 18 points. Maya Trench scored 13 and Jujuan Nicholas scored 12.

Against Landry (2-6), WSJ built an 18-point first quarter lead en route to the decisive win. Nicholas led WSJ with 11 points while Gordon scored nine. Sydnei Young and Trench each added eight.

The Rams’ unbeaten streak had its stiffest test at last weekend’s West Jefferson tournament, however, as WSJ had to face the host Buccaneers (6-2) Saturday without a number of key players, including Gordon, its leading scorer, and starters Nicholas and Deja Feist — the game coincided with a number of players taking the ACT test.

West St. John survived for a 44-43 victory, winning on Jaquania Hunter’s go-ahead layup as time expired.

Donasia Bell led West St. John with a game-high 18 points. Trench scored 13 and Hunter scored 11.

“Everyone stepped up,” said West St. John coach Lester Smith. “From Donasia Bell, a senior, to all of our younger ones. That was basically everyone we had … one senior, and sophomores, freshmen and 8th graders.

Smith said Hunter came up big when the team needed her to, and consequently the Rams remain unbeaten.

“It was an exciting ball game. The kids wanted to keep the streak going,” said Smith. “Some people were saying to not play, or withdraw. But I told them we were gonna play and that our young kids would step up.

“That type of game is valuable because now, down the line, we’re not afraid to put an 8th grader in. We’ve seen them do it.”

The Rams also defeated O.P. Walker at the tourney, 55-27.

WSJ was back at full strength, as Trench scored 18, Gordon 17 and Nicholas 10.

Monday will see the Lady Rams face an out-of-state challenge at the St. Mary’s tournament, as West St. John will take on a Booker T. Washington team out of Tennessee that was undefeated last season. Tip-off is slated for 5:15 p.m.

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