Stumbling block

Sacred Heart downed by Cedar Creek in 2nd round
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RUSTON – In order to advance on to the next round of the LHSAA Division IV playoffs, the Sacred Heart Lady Trojans had to overcome a huge stumbling block in the form of the No. 4 ranked Cedar Creek Lady Cougars.
Coming into the game the Lady Cougars were 29-3 on the year and averaged 52 points per game, while the No. 20 ranked Lady Trojans were only managing to average 39 points per game. That discrepancy in offensive production would come into play, as Sacred Heart stubbed their collective toe in a 58-31 loss.
The Lady Trojans completed the season with an overall record of 7-20.
From the opening tip, it was evident that Cedar Creek had a huge frontcourt advantage in terms of height. Getting the ball down on the block was priority number one for the Lady Cougars and it showed. By the half way point of the first quarter, Cedar Creek had a 9-0 lead, and the two power forwards for the Lady Cougars had produced six of those points.
Cedar Creek added to their score with another basket and two made free throws before Sacred Heart was able to get on the board when junior Lauren Shipp sank two from the charity stripe at the 1:31 mark. That would be the only points collected by the Lady Trojans in the period. The Lady Cougars finished the quarter by adding four more points to their total taking a 17-2 lead at the buzzer.
“From the scouting reports we received, the teams that were able to play a close game with them slowed the ball down on offense,” stated Sacred Heart head coach Megan Granger. “So, that was our game plan going in. But, it was hard for our outside shooters to get anything going early on in the game. You have to give them credit, they are a good team. They were very hard to defend because of their height advantage. We were just out matched tonight.”
Sacred Heart re-grouped offensively in the second quarter. Lauren Shipp knocked down a jump shot to score the first points of the period. Cedar Creek answered with the next four points. However, the two teams matched each other point for point over the next four minutes, with the Lady Cougars outscoring the Lady Trojans by only two points, 8-6, over that stretch.
Unfortunately for Sacred Heart, Cedar Creek began to assert itself on both sides of the floor in the final two minutes of the half. The Lady Cougars busted the nets for 10 of the next 12 points, including two three-point baskets, to take a 38-8 lead into the locker room.
The third quarter mirrored the first quarter in almost every way with the exception of the number of points scored by Cedar Creek. The Lady Cougars opened the period with the first three points scored before Shipp could hit on two free throws. From that point on, Cedar Creek owned the scoreboard, putting up the final nine points of the quarter to take a 50-10 lead.
Sacred Heart, as they have done all season long, was not going to go away easily. Finally getting the chance to find some open shots, the Lady Trojans were able to get on track offensively.
Helping the cause was senior guard Shani Fontenot, who heated up from beyond the arc, hitting on her first two three-point attempts of the game. At the 4:44 mark of the period, Sacred Heart had outpaced the Lady Cougars 7-4.
Over the final minutes of the contest, the Lady Trojans continued to put up some offensive numbers. Fontenot stayed hot from downtown, knocking down three more long distance shots.
As the final minutes of the game ticked away, Sacred Heart had now more than doubled the number of points scored in the first three quarters. Regrettably, it was not enough to overcome the deficit accumulated.
Fontenot led all Lady Trojans with 15 points, while Shipp added six points.
“The team faced a lot of adversity throughout the season,” said Granger. “We had some struggles early on, but I think it made us stronger at the end of the year. Nothing great comes easy. We are going to work hard this offseason and try on build on the momentum from the last few games.”
“We are definitely going to miss our senior leaders, Shani Fontenot and Dulcie Miller,” Granger continued. “This team will not forget their leadership. Both of them were very coachable and never stopped hustling. I wish them all the luck in the future.”