Lady Bulldogs earn State Runner-Up

For the second time in her short career as a head coach, Dot Doulet has seen her team earn a state runner-up spot. This time it was in Class 3A against University High. The Lady Cubs slipped by Ville Platte High 63-56 in a game that was close throughout.
“The better and more prepared team won tonight,” Doulet said after the game. “We made some mistakes early on and then we were never able to recover.”
The youth of the team was evident when University High scored first and followed with a three-point shot. Tyreonna Doucet hit VPHS’ first shot of the game and got the Lady Bulldogs on the board. Deja McKinney popped a three-point shot moments later and that made it a one-point ball game. After a series of bucket exchanges, Miya McKinney gave VPHS some momentum and Shalinda Thomas gave VPHS their first lead of the game. Thomas muscled her way to the goal and then she ripped a three-point bomb at the buzzer. Ville Platte was up 16-11 after the first period.
In the second frame, U-High hit a three-point shot and Doucet answered with a pair of jump shots. After a period of hardly any fouls being called, the whistles came out in force. Both teams were called repeatedly and that slowed the rhythm of the game. It severely affected Deja McKinney, who was flagged three times in the half, causing Doulet to sit her down.
“I think she just played with too much energy tonight and it got the better of her,” Doulet remarked. “She is young (junior) and not on her game tonight. Those things happen.”
With Deja McKinney out of the game, the Lady Cubs took advantage. They scored 12 points in the time she was out and held VPHS to just four points. U-High got the lead back and they would not lose it again.
VPHS was down 29-26 at the break and the third period was not friendly either. Breanna Pete and Shalinda Thomas did all they could to pace the VPHS girls and keep them in the game. U-High never let up and improved their lead to 49-37 after the third block ended.
The final period saw the Lady Cubs slow the down game tremendously. They also added a three-point bomb moments into the period. This would begin to force the youthful Lady Bulldogs to try and force shots.
VPHS battled hard all the way to the end. The Lady Bulldogs fought back with all they had. They were within five points with less than 30 seconds to go. Unfortunately, a pair of turnovers would get U-High to the free throw line and they would execute the shots.
Ville Platte had an amazing game from the line, just as they did in the semi-final. They were 78 percent for the entire game. Pete finished the game with 15 points and Doucet was good for 12 points. Deja McKinney was held to only nine points.
In the semi-final, Ville Platte found a way to get in charge early and didn’t look back. They took a 73-64 victory over the Lady Hornets of Albany.
Deja McKinney hit a three-point blast and Tyreonna Doucet nailed a pair of lay-ups as VPHS went up 12-8 in the opening period. Albany used a set of fast breaks in the final seconds of the period to cut into the lead.
In the second period, McKinney helped her squad to jump out to an 18-8 lead. The girls of Albany were always known for hitting the long shot. They started doing just that and cut into the VPHS lead. As the period rolled on, Shalinda Thomas sank back-to-back shots. The Lady Bulldogs had the momentum rolling as the second period came to a close. The Lady Bulldogs took a 32-20 into the mid-point of the game.
The second half saw a different start. Albany began with a series of three-point bombs and Ville Platte had a few turnovers. The Lady Bulldogs saw their lead shrink to just six points in the period.
Midway through the third period, VPHS showed Albany that is was a bad idea to send them to the free throw line. VPHS hit nearly 70 percent in the game and most of the shots began in the second half. As the Lady Bulldogs began to knock down their free throws, their lead grew back. They would take a 45-38 lead into the final period.
Albany fired back and came within five points for a moment. Then, Thomas got hot and hit a series of points off of a fast break. Doucet powered her way to the bucket twice and VPHS was up by 10 points.
The Lady Hornets got a pair of three-point shots and it looked as though they had a shot to make a late second run for the tie. However, McKinney took things in her own hands and ripped off six straight points. Her last shot came on a spin-around jump shot that set the large VPHS crowd on fire. She went on to have 32 points in the game.
Ville Platte’s win was impressive to say the least. Doucet finished with 21 points and Pete was good for 12 points.
The Lady Bulldogs finish the year with a record of 30-3. It was their first year in Class 3A.