April 6, 2005

Eugene, Richard, Douglas receive Parish Girls Basketball Awards

By Eric LeBlanc
Sports Editor
(Photos by ERIC LEBLANC)

The St. Charles Herald-Guide would like to congratulate the Destrehan and Hahnville girls basketball teams for their great seasons and would like to recognize the accomplishments of a few players. Every player on these two teams deserves praise, but these three players stood out above the rest as deserving of our Parish MVP, Parish Runner-Up and Player of the Future awards.

The winners are:

Parish Girls Basketball MVP: Amber Eugene

The University of Southern Mississippi knew that it was getting a great basketball player when Destrehan’s Amber Eugene signed with them earlier this year. But now, they are also getting the top player in St. Charles Parish.

Eugene adds her second Parish MVP award to the many awards she has garnered in her high school career. This season she led the Lady Cats to an overall record of 25-10 and guided them to the first round of the state playoffs.

Eugene has been the star of the Lady Cats for the past two seasons, leaving the shadow of Ashley Sentimore behind and creating her own for next year’s team.

Eugene averaged 15.8 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game this season while also being recognized on the All-District and All-River Parishes Teams.

Parish Girls Basketball Runner-Up: Shanna Richard

While Amber Eugene was the star of the show this season for the Lady Cats, Shanna Richard was undoubtedly the co-star.

Richard stepped up and averaged 11.8 points per game, 2.5 steals per game and 3.5 assists per game this season.

With Richard, the Lady Cats had an insurance policy for Eugene. If Eugene was having an off night, Richard would pick up the slack. And she also carried her share of the team throughout the season. Just as Ashley Sentimore and Meagan Stock complimented each other two years ago, Eugene and Richard were the heart and soul of the Lady Cats this year.

Richard was also named to the All-District and All-River Parishes Teams. And with her being a junior, she will have another year to help the Lady Cats make it back to the Sweet 16.

Girls Basketball Player of the Future: Danielle Douglas

Early in the season when Hahnville’s leading scorer Shunta Isaac went down with an injury, a freshman stepped up and held her own for the rest of the year.

That freshman was Danielle Douglas and she finished third on the Lady Tigers in scoring. Douglas helped the Lady Tigers to an overall record of 20-15.

Douglas is part of a bright future of Hahnville girls basketball. With talented underclassmen such as Cheyney Hill, Kyla Thomas and Naomi Hills the Lady Tigers will be a strong force in their new district for the next few years.

Douglas has three years left at Hahnville High School. And if she continues to improve, she will no doubt be a parish award winner again.

Eric LeBlanc can be reached at EricL@heraldguide.com or at (985) 758-2795, ext. 219.