Lady Cardinals secure second place in 7-3A

Tue. February 14, 2012 at 10:18 a.m. | By Keyon Jeff/Sports Correspondent

NAPOLEONVILLE — In the regular season, E.D. White Catholic and Donaldsonville girls basketball teams were as evenly matched as two teams can be.

Both finished tied for second place in District 7-3A with identical 7-3 records. Each won a close game on the others home court. Both were clinging to one of the finals positions in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association playoffs.

With a spot in the Division III playoffs at stake Monday night at Assumption High School, the Lady Cardinals and Lady Tigers waged another tight battle.

E.D. White broke open a tied game at halftime by outscoring Donaldsonville 11-2 in the third quarter and held on late with clutch free-throw shooting for 46-42 victory.

The win ensures E.D. White, ranked 32nd in the power rankings, will be in the playoffs.

"Our girls knew what was on the line. If we lose, we're probably done for the season," E.D. White coach Darin Fontz said. "(Monday), for us, was really the first round of the playoffs."

Unlike the two regular-season matchups, E.D. White got out to a strong start against Donaldsonville, leading throughout the opening quarter.

In the final minute of the period, Lady Cardinal Emily Weimer stole a pass and drove the length of the court for an uncontested layup, giving E.D. White a 12-7 lead after the first quarter.

Donaldsonville scored seven consecutive points to start the second quarter. They took their only lead of game 14-12 on a pair of free throws from Bianca Harvey (21 points) at the 5:17 mark.

But Genna Larose (19 points) responded for E.D. White on the next possession by nailing a 3-pointer to retake the lead. The Lady Tigers wiped out a four-point deficit in last 1:10 with back-to-back baskets by Harvey and Patrice West (eight points) to tie the game at 21 at halftime.

E.D. White's Jordan Gros (18 points) dominated the third quarter, scoring nine of the Lady Cardinals' 11 points. She scored seven straight points on the first three possessions in the period by cutting from the baseline into the lane and taking the entry passes for easy layups.

"We wanted to get (Jordan) isolated because the girl guarding her had three fouls," Fontz said. "We thought we could take advantage of that and attack. (Donaldsonville) didn't adjust to the screen, and we were able to get her open on the block."

E.D. White held the Lady Tigers to one basket in the period and took a 32-23 lead into the fourth quarter.

"We usually have one bad quarter a game, and it's usually that third quarter," Donaldsonville coach Barry Whittingham Jr. said. "The box-and-one kind of perplexed us. I don't know why. We've seen it the last five, six games."

Donaldsonville made a furious comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, including two deep 3-pointers by Harvey in the final minute. But the Lady Cardinals won the game at the foul line.

Through three quarters, E.D. White shot a dismal 2-of-12 from the free-throw line. In the fourth, they went 12-of-19 from the stripe to secure to win.

Fontz said he is proud of the way his kids fought hard the entire game, given the stakes. He is particularly happy for his two seniors, Kristen Daigle and Paige Morvant.

"They knew they would have been the first E.D. White team not to make the playoffs in quite a few years. They didn't want to have that label," Fontz said. "Our kids have pride in what we accomplished. They definitely didn't want their season to end (Monday), and I'm glad we get to play one more."