Destrehan is on fire – and there’s no better time for that than as the playoffs begin.
The Ladycats are set for first round action tonight as the No. 13 seed in Division I, playing host to visiting Ouachita Parish, the No. 20 seed, at 6 p.m. tonight (Feb. 20). That will be one of two playoff games on a big night for girls basketball in St. Charles Parish, as No. 14 seeded Hahnville hosts No. 19 H.L. Bourgeois at 6:30 p.m. in a rematch of district competitors.
DHS (22-7) has won nine games in a row, most of those by large margins. Six of those wins nailed down the District 8-5A championship for the Ladycats, and an undefeated district crown at that.
That was a goal the players committed to before the season, Destrehan head coach Twalla Powell said, and a goal she said they earned by seeing that shared commitment through a lot of hard work – and a lot of unselfish, team basketball when the Wildcats took the court.
“I knew that we could do it this year because I could see the girls putting in the work, time and effort to accomplish that goal,” said Powell, in her third season with Destrehan. “It’s an awesome accomplishment and it’s all about their work ethic.”
After starting district play with a decisive 63-33 win over Hahnville, Destrehan continued what’d been a tear with a 50-29 win over Thibodaux, a 53-41 victory over East St. John and a 64-37 win over Terrebonne. The tightest game came in the final district game against H.L. Bourgeois, a 43-40 win at Bourgeois. The final game of the regular season saw DHS back to dominating, a 53-12 win over Central Lafourche.
“We’re playing together at both ends. Offensively we’re executing and defensively, we’re communicating and sound on that end. The on-court communication is the best it’s been since I’ve been here. And this team has great chemistry. Our theme this year, resoundingly, is to play team ball. It’s been a great experience coaching these young ladies.”
Senior Koi Ursin has seen her game grow all around this season. The guard and offensive driving force for Destrehan has made a big impact on the boards as well this season, averaging close to seven rebounds per game.
“She’s really stepped up for us, not just as a scorer. She’s been a tremendous leader on the floor. She’s communicating and she’s playing some great defense. She’s being a general for us on the floor,” Powell said.
Ursin has averaged 19 points per game this season – and 28 points per game in district competition. She is also approaching a rare milestone at DHS – the 2,000 points club. Ursin could reach that mark if the Wildcats make a run in the playoffs.
Powell, of course, says that’s the plan.
“We want to go all the way to Hammond and play for a championship,” Powell said.
One difference-maker for Destrehan is the team’s interior presence. The Wildcats very often garner a big rebounding advantage over the competition. It starts with Amaya Armstrong and Honesty Miller in the paint.
“I call them our ‘guardians of the goal,’” Powell said.
Jaedyn Dickerson’s impact as a freshman has also given the team a notable boost this year, while a returning starter in Kami Johnson has lifted her game – “she’s hitting open shots, cutting to the basket and finishing, just playing really good ball,” Powell said – all part of what’s been a special mix this season for a Wildcats team that’s steadily ascended.
Wins over highly ranked teams like Slidell, Southern Lab and John Curtis have Destrehan dreaming big.
Ouachita Parish (18-9) is the first of what Powell and her team hopes will be multiple challenges.
Hahnville (19-8), meanwhile, is also playing good ball heading into the playoffs, winners of five of its final six games. of the regular season.
A rematch with H.L. Bourgeois (19-9) in the opening round will see the Tigers face off with a Braves team HHS defeated 38-30 on Feb. 4. The rematch will come a little more than two weeks later, and these teams will be well versed in what the other likes to do, as well as respective strengths and weaknesses.
Hahnville will be at home, and head coach Joshua Bellaire likes that for his team.
“We want to get this done at home,” Bellaire said. “We’re looking for the girls to come out and play with the high energy and high effort that’s carried us all year long, our brand of basketball. This is going to be pretty big for us, and playing our style of basketball is how we advance. When we’re aggressive, we’re at our best.”
Hahnville did just that in a decisive 51-10 win over Central Lafourche last week. J’kasia Bourgeois scored 13 to lead Hahnville, with Paige Friloux adding 11.
Likewise, in Hahnville’s 53-47 win over Thibodaux, Dihlynn Mitchell scored 18 points and Paige Friloux 16 to lead the way for the Tigers. Amani Williams added nine.
Hahnville suffered a 54-45 loss at East St. John to end the regular season. J’kasia Bourgeois scored a team-high 16 points for HHS. A’kjha Kenner added 9 and Paige Friloux 8.
J’kasia Bourgeois has added firepower to the Tigers offense this season – Bellaire said she’s really finding her comfort zone late in the season, which has been a lift for the Tigers.
“She’s playing well for us, really starting to come along,” said Bellaire. “She brings a lot of energy and effort. Especially offensively, she has that ability to make shots and make plays. She’s done it down the stretch of games. She’s really finding her comfort zone on the offensive end.”
Beating a team twice can be a difficult proposition. Bellaire said he knows Bourgeois will bring counters to what worked for Hahnville in the first game.
“It kind of throws Xs and Os out the window when you play someone for a second time. We know what they want to do and vice versa. It’s about energy, who wants it a little more and who gets after it. You know each other’s personnel as well. It comes down to effort.
“We’ve had some very good days of practice. I see them understanding the moment, that this is it. You especially see it with the seniors – the end of the season means the end of your high school career. There’s a more focused tone.”
