Lady Eagles advance to title game

The Vermilion Catholic Lady Eagles will play for the Class 1A state championship Saturday afternoon for the second time in three years after defeating White Castle 57-46 Tuesday night.
The Lady Eagles led by as many as 15 points, and held off the Lady Dogs to earn a spot in the championship.
“It’s amazing to be going back to finals,” said VC senior Kaylen Collins.
VC jumped out to a 8-2 lead after two straight buckets by Lexi Langlinais at the two minute mark in the first period.
The Lady Eagles extended the lead to 12-4 with 35 seconds left. VC shot an impressive 42 percent in the first period with all five starters scoring.
White Castle was ice cold from the field, shooting only 24 percent. The Lady Eagles led 12-6 at the end of the first quarter.
VC went into the halftime break with a 26-13 advantage. Ashailee Brailee was the leading scorer with nine points in the half followed by Langlinais with seven.
VC opened the second half going inside and built a convincing 32-15 lead with 4:51 left in third, but White Castle began pressing and causing problems for the Lady Eagle ball handlers.
What was once a 15-point lead for VC, was cut to eight with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter.
A Collins’ bucket dampened the Lady Dogs’ run momentarily to extend the Lady Eagles’ lead to 34-24 with 1:34 left in the third.
VC was outscored 15-10 in the frame.
The Lady Dogs cut the deficit to 36-28 heading into the final quarter.
However, the Lady Eagles were able to hold off a charge by the Lady Dogs by nailing free throws late in the game.
Brailey was the leading scorer for the Eagles with 21 points, and the senior said her team had a goal that they are one win away from accomplishing.
“We’re trying to make history,” she said. “We want to win two championships in four years.”
Other VC scorers were: Collins (17), Langlinais (11), Kelly White (6) and Leah Camel (2).
VC will play North Central at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.