Lady Wildcats surge past Lady Pats

LEROY – The Abbeville Lady Wildcats improved to 4-0 in District 6-3A, dominating the second half en route to a 51-35 road-win over the North Vermilion Lady Patriots.

After the Lady Cats jumped out to a 7-2 first quarter lead, Simone Pillette caught fire and scored eight of the Lady Pats’ 15 second quarter points. North Vermilion also picked up its defense pressure and Abbeville to only nine points to claim a 17-16 halftime lead.

“It was a game of runs,” said Abbeville head coach Dean Dronet. “We outscored them 7-2 in the first quarter. In the second we turned the ball over and they got back in the game. We played much better in the second half. We came out and turned up the defensive pressure.”

The Lady Cats went on a 17-6 third quarter run to regain control of the game. Once again, junior point guard, Arrayia Starlard led the charge for Abbeville. She only scored four points, but contributed six assists and six rebounds, controlling the offense and defense for the Lady Cats.

“Arrayia gets to the goal so quick and she can shoot,” said Dronet. But she also has a motor that doesn’t stop. She plays both ends of the floor the whole game.”

“She really took control in the second half,” continued Dronet. “She was patient and controlled the game. She got the ball to our bigs and they make good things happen.”

Those “bigs” combined to score 29 of Abbeville’s 35 second half points. Barbara Brynat led the way with a game-high 20 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. Bianca Levy followed with 14 points, eight of which came in the third. She also had a game-high 12 rebounds.

The third member of the “bigs”, Jacqueline Braxton, scored six points and grabbed five boards.

Lady Pats head coach Phillip Freeman starts five juniors with senior Catherine Touchet filling the sixth-man role. His team is improving, but missed opportunities to expand the lead in the second quarter and struggled in the third.

“They’ve progressed throughout the whole year,” Freeman said of his team. “We didn’t maximize the lead when we had the chance. We also need to match their intensity, but the third quarter has been the story all year for us.”

Pillette finished with 11 points leading the Lady Pats. Touchet scored nine off the bench. Morgan Harrington scored six and Kelli LeBlanc added five.

The Lady Cats were scheduled to clash with Notre Dame Tuesday in Abbeville, while the Lady Pats were supposed to play at West St. Mary. Both games have been postponed due to inclement weather.

Rosco Harrington
Sports Correspondant