Ready to battle: Lady Tigers too much for St. John

ST. GABRIEL – East Iberville used 13-4 run in the third quarter to pull away from St. John of Plaquemine on the way to a 54-36 District 9-1A victory on Friday night at EIHS' gym.

The Lady Tigers (12-12, 3-1), under coach Cormanda Grace-Green and LSWA ranked No. 14, also defeated Ascension Christian 73-43 on Tuesday night in a game that marked the return of reigning league MVP Kaitlyn Knight from an ACL injury and were in a second-place tie with White Castle heading into their first-round finale on Tuesday in St. Gabriel. East Iberville travels to West St. John on Friday before hosting Ascension Catholic on Tuesday.

"Our nucleus is now intact and we are ready to battle and make a run," Green said. "We have a lot of confidence right now and getting (Knight) back will be a big help. It makes us a bigger and deeper team."

Knight, a 6-3 center, and Jasmine Mosby led the Lady Tigers with 12 points each. Ja'Laycia Mills added 11, Chelsea Green nine, Taylor Green seven and Ariel Fuller three.

The Lady Eagles (7-14, 0-4), under coach Chase Mancuso, also fell to West St. John 72-26 on Tuesday night and hosted Ascension Christian on Tuesday. St. John hosts Ascension Catholic on Friday before traveling to White Castle on Tuesday.

Jessie Brown led St. John with 11 points. Kamryn Theriot and Shelbi Strickland each added six, Payton Passantino five, Carlee Smith three, Jayme Rivet and Samantha Rivet each two and Keri Yarbrough one.

Fuller's layup off a steal opened the contest before Strickland's jumper answered. Mosby's inside move put East Iberville ahead for good during a12-3 run that included Chelsea Green's 18-footer and Mills' putback.

The Lady Tigers led 19-5 following Mosby's spin move. Mills fed Knight inside to make it 25-12 at the half after another 18-footer by Green. Brown's drive had cut the deficit to under 10.

Taylor Green's 3-point play opened the second half before Theriot's putback and Strickland's and one. Brown's consecutive transition baskets cut it to 33-22 after Green's long jumper but East Iberville answered with Mills' 3-point play. Smith's trey from the right corner at the buzzer cut it to 42-25 going into the fourth quarter.

Marlana Stewart fed Knight inside four times to open the fourth quarter before Passantino finally answered. Knight's putback reflected the final tally after Strickland's drive and Mosby and Brown traded putbacks.

The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 15-12 lead over Ascension Christian before taking a 29-22 halftime lead and extending it to 47-30 going into the fourth.

Taylor Green and Chelsea Green each had 12 to lead East Iberville. Kirstein Oubre added 11, Mills and Fuller each nine, Mosby eight, Knight six, Kaitlyn Purpera three, Nadia Rodriquez two and Stewart one.

Ally Cambre led the Lady Lions with 19 points. Sydney Sehon added six.