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LAPLACE — Some members of the St. Charles Catholic girls’ basketball team are still displaced from home or living in hotels six months after Hurricane Ida, but no one would ever be able to tell what they’ve endured by the way they dominate the court.

The girls somehow put all the trauma behind them for 32 minutes every time they step into a game.

St. Charles Catholic is flying into the LHSAA Division III girls’ basketball quarterfinals after defeating Catholic – New Iberia 44-30 in Wednesday’s regional round.

The sixth-seeded Comets are taking on No. 3 Isidore Newman this evening. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m. at Newman’s Palaestra Fitzgerald Skertich Arena, located at 1903 Jefferson Avenue in New Orleans.

Head coach Dawn Gaubert said this will be the Lady Comets’ second match-up against Newman this season. Their last meeting ended in a 34-56 loss for St. Charles Catholic.

“We faced them in the regular season and really struggled in many facets of the game. We didn’t defend well, rebound well, or get back on defense to stop their transition to offense,” Gaubert said.

At the time, St. Charles Catholic was short two starters due to injuries. Even with some really young players giving it their all, Newman proved to be a tough opponent.

Gaubert will be looking for the same effort she saw in Wednesday’s regional round against Catholic – New Iberia. Kaitlyn Abair led in scoring with 19 points, followed by Mya Brown with 14 points and Kaylee Brown with 10 points.

“Our defensive pressure was the key to pulling away and expanding our lead. They had some height to their team and multiple players who could knock down the three ball,” Gaubert said.

The Lady Comets are playing as a cohesive unit this year, having returned most of last year’s squad. The addition of a few young girls with a passion for the game has added to the team’s chemistry.

Gaubert said all of starters on the court have played their part well and really stepped up to contribute to the team’s success.

Senior point guard Kaitlyn Abair distributes the ball well. With great knowledge of the game, she has truly stepped up as a coach on the floor.

Junior Mya Brown is the Comets’ post player in the middle. Gaubert described her as “dynamite from down low,” but she can just as easily step out and has a nice touch from the three-point line. Heading into the second round of playoffs, she is the team’s leading rebounder and scorer.

Mya’s younger sister Kaylee Brown is only a freshman, but she is already developing into a leader on the team.

“She has recently come back from injury and has just been a powerhouse on the boards and has the natural ability to attack the defense,” Gaubert said.

If the Comets take down Newman this evening, they will advance to face the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 2 Episcopal and No. 7 Dunham in the Division III semifinals.