While Destrehan absorbed its second loss of the season at the Allstate Sugar Bowl tournament, their play in its aftermath suggests the team used it as a wakeup call.
The Wildcats fell to Warren Easton 49-46 in the second round of the Sugar Bowl tourney, but since that game DHS has won by margins of 30, 30, 42 and 50 — the first two of those victories coming over postseason contenders St. Thomas Aquinas (2A) and East St. John. DHS entered the week with a record of 16-2.
Destrehan coach Angi Butler said the close loss to Easton indeed led to some changes, most notably a refocusing on the details — off the floor as much as on it.
“We talked about it on the bus,” Butler said. “When (players) show up a little late, or come in out of dress code or anything like that, it affects you. It may seem like a small detail, but it gets you out of sync, out of game mode even if just a little and that affects how you play.
“Winning so many games early, naturally there’s that tendency to relax. Maybe we needed this to get back to what we do.”
On the floor, the key detail in the end may have been foul shooting.
“We missed seven and we lost by three,” Butler said, before noting, “but we shouldn’t have been in that position to start with.”
The Wildcats came out of the tournament with two wins, an 88-65 opening win over a Salmen team that ousted DHS from the Allstate tourney a year ago, and a 76-46 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in a consulation bracket game.
“It was good to have that next game a day later,” Butler said. “It gave us a chance to fix ourselves. (St. Thomas Aquinas) is a good team, but we set the tone for ourselves before we even got to the building.”
Following the tournament, DHS returned to district play at home last week against longtime rival East St. John, a 72-35 victory. Brandi Mason scored 20 points to go with eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Cara Ursin scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals, just missing a triple double. Taylor Daigs scored 14 points.
For East St. John, Taylor Lipps led her team with 15 points.
“We came out in beast mode,” Butler said. “We knew before the season they’d be one of our strongest competitors for the district title. We were both contenders, and we couldn’t afford to let them get off to a good start.
Ursin led DHS in the 71-21 victory over Central Lafourche, scoring 20 points to go with 13 rebounds and four assists.
Against Terrebonne, Ursin got her triple double, scoring 25 points to go with 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals. Mason scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds and Sierra Samuels had 12 points and three rebounds.
The Wildcats are now headed into the second round of district play. Friday marks a rematch with Thibodaux. DHS has only been truly challenged once in district competition so far this season, and that came in its 63-56 victory at Thibodaux. This time, Destrehan will host.
“They’re a pretty talented team,” Butler said. “We expect a bit of a challenge there.”
The Wildcats host Hahnville next Friday.
With the stretch run of the season underway, Butler said refining the team’s halfcourt offense will be a priority before the postseason begins. While the Wildcats thrive on pressing teams and scoring on the break, Butler warned those opportunities often become fewer and further between the deeper you trek in the playoffs.
“Come playoff time, you’ve got to be able to count on your offense,” she said. “We can’t rely on the fast break.”
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