District Champs!!

MAMOU — “This is a major accomplishment,” exclaimed a jubilant Mark Temple, the head coach of the Mamou Lady Demons basketball team.
These resonating words were never truer than Thursday night, as Mamou defeated district rival Lake Arthur 63-54 to seal an undefeated District 4-2A title; a feat that had not been accomplished by the Lady Demons since the 1997-98 season.
“After we came up short last season for the district title and losing in the first round of the playoffs, we told the girls that we had some unfinished business this season,” stated Temple. “I am so proud of these players and their resilience all year long.”
As the game began, the packed house knew that they would be in for a gut wrenching performance from both teams.
With 1:22 left in the first quarter, Darelzeray Bellard hit a three-point basket to put Mamou up 8-5. The two teams exchanged free throws in the final seconds of the quarter to make it 9-7 Mamou as the initial quarter came to a close.
Mamou hit two quick baskets, including another Bellard three-pointer, to open the second quarter with a 5-0 run.
After the two squads traded baskets, Lake Arthur closed the gap to one point, 16-15, by going on a 6-0 run of their own.
Mamou regrouped, capitalizing on their defensive quickness and scored five of the last seven points in the quarter to take a 21-17 lead into the locker room.
The third quarter continued the back and forth theme of the game, with the Lady Demons extending the lead to seven points, 36-29, as the period came to a close.
If the first three quarters were a battle, the final period was a war of attrition. Neither team was willing to concede until the final horn.
As much as Mamou tried to shake Lake Arthur, the Lady Demons could not gain more than an eight-point advantage in the final stanza.
In the end, it was the free throw shooting of Mamou that won the title, as Lake Arthur had to put the Lady Demons on the line in the final minutes of the game. Mamou rose to the challenge, hitting 10 out of their last 13 free throws.
Arkeiyanah Thomas led all Lady Demon scorers with 20 points. Kamaneisha Wilson chipped in 19 points, while Bellard added 15 points for Mamou.
The Lady Demons end the season with an overall record of 23-8; their third 20 win season in a row.
Mamou now awaits the announcement of the playoff bracket on Monday to determine who they will play in the first round.
Temple heaped praises on his seniors after the game.
“Our seniors have come a long way since I first got them their eighth grade year,” said Temple. “They have truly become the core of our team.”.