VC Lady Eagles going back to the Sweet 16 with win

The Lady Eagles of VC are heading back to the Sweet 16 after knocking off St. Mary 41-30 Saturday afternoon.
VC will play Tuesday night at 7:45 against White Castle in the semifinal game.
The games are being held at McNeese University in Lake Charles.
Tuesday’s game will be VC’s third in six days. They won Thursday and then had to bounce back and play Saturday.
“It feels good to win,” said VC head coach Kim Guidry. “I still wish we had more time for our legs. We played a hard one on Thursday. Six-hour trip back. Two days later, we are in the quarterfinals against a great team. Two days later, we get to play in the semifinals.”
The Lady Eagles and St. Mary went toe to toe in the first half with VC leading 25-20 at half time.
VC’s defense had a big hand in making it rough for St. Mary. They made 7 out of 26 shots in the first half, compared to VC’s 11 out of 30 shots.
The Lady Eagles began to separate their selves from St. Mary in the third period. VC’s Lexi Langlinais nailed a 3-pointer and teammate Kaylen Collins had success inside the paint that gave VC a 10-point lead with 4 minutes left in the third period.
“We wanted to get the ball inside to Kaylen. We wanted to give our players a rest. Give them the hydration,” she said.
St. Mary scored their first basket in the third period at the 4-minute mark. In the quarter, St. Mary scored 3 points and seven in the fourth period.
“I thought we had to move and defend the basketball,” she added. “We wanted to deny them the passing lanes. That way we had a chance to get the ball back and not give them a shot.”
She also told her girls to “Play like there was no tomorrow. Every loose ball, every layup and every free throw, we have to have. If there is a loose ball, you better be on the floor, or you coming to sit with me.
“I thought our players gave that extra 10 percent in the fourth period,” she added.
The Lady Eagles missed 10 straight buckets in the fourth period but was able to win the game at the free throw line.
VC scored its only four points from the free-throw line in the fourth period.
Brailey led VC with 17 points and Collins had 13.
Langlinais added nine and Leah Camel made 2 for VC.