By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Destrehan’s magical ride through the girls basketball season came to an end in Lake Charles Saturday at the hands of Mount Carmel.

The Cubs captured a 69-60 victory in the Class 5A state championship game behind Jennifer Clark’s 22 points and four assists, handing Destrehan (31-2) only its second loss of the season. 

Clark was named the game’s most outstanding player. Her 22 points included two buckets down the stretch to help her team pull away. 

Both teams were making their first ever appearances in the state championship game. 

Freshman Cara Ursin led the Wildcats with 23 points and 12 rebounds, capping a strong debut campaign. But against the Cubs, on this night, it wasn’t enough.

“I guarantee you’re going to see us again,” said Destrehan coach Angi Butler. “We’re going to be back and next time it’s going to be a totally different ending. I guarantee it.”

Destrehan trailed by nine late in the fourth quarter but didn’t make things easy, rallying to cut the Cubs’ lead to four with 1:23 remaining. But it was as close as Destrehan got. MCA (29-6) went on a 6-1 run from there to close the door and seal the championship. 

“I kept telling the girls that it was just another group of girls we were playing. ‘They may be as good as you. But you are as good as them,’” said Mount Carmel coach Panos Bountovinas.

Mount Carmel’s outside shooting was a key factor, the Cubs making nine 3-pointers in the game. Paige Franckiewicz hit four of those en route to 14 points. Teammate Taylor Berry scored 18. 

“It came down to who outhustled who,” Destrehan coach Angie Butler said. “I think they truly outhustled us. I think us not getting back on defense cost us some crucial points.”

Jasmine Morris scored 14 for Destrehan while Alexis Jackson and Jordan Dabney each scored 10.