VPHS punches ticket for Top 28

Going into a hostile environment can always be scary for any unit in battle. That was the situation Ville Platte Head Coach Dot Doulet and her girls faced as they traveled to Rayville to take on the ninth-seeded Lady Hornets. Ville Platte went into Rayville and accomplished their mission. They won 69-59, punching their ticket for the Top 28 Tournament at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. The win moves VPHS to face fourth-seeded Albany Thursday night at 6:15 p.m. The Lady Hornets defeated the fifth-seeded Notre Dame Lady Pioneers 59-56 in the quarter-finals.
Ville Platte traded baskets with Rayville for the first half of the opening period. Several turnovers gave the Lady Hornets a wave of momentum; a three-point shot from Deja McKinney and a turnover from Emanee Fontenot that led to points. Rayville ended the first period with a 17-14 lead.
The second frame opened up with McKinney tying the game with a jump shot. Tyreonna Doucet and Breanna Pete each hit lay ups to give VPHS more momentum.
Rayville’s Makayla Wilson was a one-player wrecking crew. She continued to get points for RHS and keep the home team in the game. She went on to lead RHS with 25 points.
As the half came to an end, Doucet hit back-to-back shots and gave the Lady Bulldogs a three-point lead 32-29.
In the second half, the Lady Bulldogs established their team playing ability. Kabreonna Stevens came off the bench and hit a series of jumpers and a three-point shot. She went on to have nine points, while Doucet was good for 15 points. McKinney, who led the team with 28 points, nailed a jump shot at the end of the period, giving VPHS a 55-41 lead. Besides the lead, the momentum swing gave VPHS the ability to put the game away.
In the final frame, the Lady Bulldogs did not have a flaw. They played strong and did not let up. Even after Doucet fouled, VPHS continued to keep the pressure on the Lady Hornets under the basket.
“I was so impressed,” said Doulet. “The girls handled it with class. Coach McKinney (Lucian) told them to stay focused and told them to remember what they are here for. Each girl played their own specific role. Our fans were awesome. They kept their fans in check by handling the environment with class.”
Midway through the final period, Doucet fouled but she had left her mark. McKinney picked up things a notch at that point. She sliced and diced the RHS defense. Mia McKinney went to the free throw line and hit both shots. That iced the game with less than two minutes left to go.
“At that point I felt we sealed it,” Doulet explained. “I said to myself, it is over, we got it sealed.”
Ville Platte moves on to face the Lady Hornets of Albany Thursday night in Lake Charles.
“They are good, especially in the front court,” Doulet explained. “Their front post player is big like Rayville’s. She dominates the boards, but overall they are not as athletic as we have seen.”
Ville Platte’s experience should be a big factor in this game. Albany has the disadvantage with hardly any play at that level. The Lady Bulldogs have seen themselves in the semi-finals and in the finals a few times.
“I pray that our team stays humble,” Doulet remarked. “This is the big stage and it is easy to lose focus. We only have a few players who have been at this level. Most of them know what to expect, so I expect them to lead us with the knowledge they gained from the first trip.”
Ville Platte will face the winner out of third-seeded University and second seeded John Curtis. That game takes place at 1 p.m. Thursday in Lake Charles.