Back on track

LAFAYETTE -- Kabreonna Stevens picked up her cell phone and sent her coach a text message.
In the hours following Ville Platte’s 47-23 win over Opelousas Monday night, Stevens felt the need to let Lady Bulldog coach Dorothy Doulet know that she wouldn’t let her coach and team down ever again. The senior struggled in the win as she scored 10 points but missed wide-open shots while dealing with an injury.
“She had a groin injury the game on Monday and even threw up some air balls,” Doulet said. “She texted me a few hours after the game saying that we were going to win tonight and that she was going to play better.”
Stewart was right on both accounts as she helped give her team a spark as she scored 11 points and a couple of steals as Ville Platte picked up a 49-41 road victory over Class 5A Lafayette High on Tuesday night.
“I just thought my team needed my help,” Stevens said. “I knew that I had to come out tonight and play better and just be extra focused.”
A book error placed Ville Platte (8-3) in a hole right off the bat as Lafayette’s Jada Arceneaux drained a pair of technical free throws. The Lady Bulldogs though responded quickly as junior center Tyreonna Doucet scored seven of her game-high 21 points in the opening period.
“We have been teaching her to be more than a one dimensional player,” Doulet said. “She has been improving that each game. That’s why she was penetrating to the basket tonight.”
At the end of the first quarter, Ville Platte held a 13-9 lead.
Na’Lani Zeno’s seven points in the second period helped Lafayette (6-5) climb back into the contest. Zeno’s play ignited a 10-4 run for the Lady Lions but the Lady Bulldogs managed to close out the second quarter with a 4-0 run and only trailed 25-23 at the break.
Stevens made her biggest impact in the third quarter as she drained a long two-point bucket to tie the game at 25 and then later tied the game with another two-point shot. Stevens would score five of her 11 points in the third period.
“I am going to be honest,” Doulet said. “She did things tonight that I didn’t know she could do.”
Entering the final period the game was tied at 33, but that is when Ville Platte seized control of the contest.
Lady Bulldog junior Kealogah Calvin hit a turnaround floater in the lane to start the quarter. Doucet then drained a pair of free throws and moments later she blocked Lafayette’s Muesha Alleyne. After a time out, Doucet drove hard through the lane for a tough two-point bucket and that was followed by Calvin dropping in an easy lay up to make it 41-33 with 4:37 left.
That 8-0 run proved to be the difference as Ville Platte held on for the eight-point victory.
“For some reason we have been coming out of the gate slow this season,” Doulet said. “We have been working on coming out strong in the first and finishing in the fourth quarters. We were a lot better tonight in both of those things.”
In addition to Doucet’s 21 points, Ville Platte was also led by Calvin who added 13 while Stevens chipped in 11 in the road victory. Lafayette was paced by Stephanie Self with 13 and Zeno who added 11.
Ville Platte meanwhile returns to action on Saturday by hosting another Class 5A program in Scotlandville. Despite some inconsistent play so far this season, the Lady Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 9 in the latest LHSAA Class 3A power rankings.
Stevens for one is going to do whatever it takes to help her team maintain its position as one of the state’s best teams.
“I just want to be back to the top,” Stevens said. “I haven’t been at the bottom since playing for this team and I don’t want to ever be there.”