Girls basketball playoffs begin Friday

When the playoffs start, coaches often speak of a new start and throwing the records out.
But for Eunice High, their accomplishment this season is one to be proud of as the Lady Bobcats earned a playoff berth for the first time since 2005 and only the second time in program history.
No. 25 Eunice (14-10, 5-7 in District 4-4A) will travel to No. 8 A.J. Ellender (21-5, 8-0 in District 7-4A) for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off today.
“It is a quite an honor,” Eunice head coach Durell Peloquin said. “It has been nine years since the Lady Cats have made the playoffs.”
The 14 wins is the second-best finish in Lady Cat history. In 2005, the Lady Cats finished at 17-9 with a 54-46 loss to Bastrop in the opening round of the playoffs.
“We have never won a playoff game,” Peloquin said of the program that he took over this season. “That is what I am using as motivation - they have a chance to make history.”
The Lady Cats have just one senior on the team - Kate McLemore, a leader on the floor according to her coach.
“Kate gave us 11 rebounds, a blocked shot and took a charge a game,” the coach said. “She was a joy to coach and she gave us everything she had.”
Dashaya Vigers, Haley Jack, Ashley Washington and Beulah Bradley join McLemore on the court as the starting five.
“When we started 9-1 back in December, I thought we had the opportunity to make a playoff run,” Peloquin said. “Of our 10 losses, seven were by four points or less.”
Peloquin said he is very proud of what his team has accomplished and is hoping for an upset and a chance to make history.
“I am looking for their best effort of the year,” he said. “If I get a winning attitude and outstanding effort, then I will be satisfied.”
For St. Edmund, the Lady Jays will be facing a familar foe as they visit Arcadia for the second year in a row at 6 p.m. tonight.
No. 28 St. Edmund (7-16 overall, 5-5 in District 5-1A) will take on No. 5 Arcadia (24-5, 10-0 in District 1-1A).
Last season, the No. 10 Lady Jays grabbed a 53-48 second round win to advance to the Class 1-A quarterfinals over the No. 7 Lady Hornets.
“They continued to work hard all season,” SEH head coach Erica Zaunbrecher said. “No matter what our record was, they still fought the whole time.”
The Lady Jays won three of their last four games, including a crucial 54-47 win over No. 25 Sacred Heart of Ville Platte.
“I think some teams will under estimate us because of our record,” the coach said. “But I think we are peaking at the right time.”
Seniors Maddie Andrus, Constance Fontenot and Samantha Bertrand will help lead the team through the playoffs.
Fellow senior Margaret Vidrine suffered a season-ending injury during district play.
“They know what they need to do,” the coach said. “We have been on that court before and they won’t be intimidated by their surroundings.
“Hopefully they can play up to their potential.”