Parish teams secure huge wins as time runs out on season

With the 2016-17 basketball season winding down, teams across the state are looking for wins to help secure a playoff appearance and to garner momentum as the post-season nears.
For three parish teams those big wins are coming at the right time, as the Mamou Demons, the Ville Platte Lady Bulldogs and the Sacred Heart Lady Trojans all picked up victories Thursday and Friday night.
Mamou kept themselves in the district championship hunt Thursday night by defeating Lake Arthur on the road 83-66. With the win the Demons are tied with Welsh for the top spot in league play at 5-2. The two teams split their series this season.
In the game Thursday, Mamou had five players score in double digits, with Mack Thomas and Tralon Arvie leading the way with 17 points each.
The Demons jumped out to a 21-17 lead after the first quarter and stymied the Tigers in the second quarter, outscoring Lake Arthur 17-9.
The game turned into a shoot out in the final two periods, as Mamou outpaced Lake Arthur 45-40 in those periods.
Also on Thursday night, the Ville Platte Lady Bulldogs traveled to Rayne to take on the Lady Wolves in a tune-up game before the playoff bracket is announced Monday.
Ville Platte led Rayne 14-9 at the end of the first quarter and 26-22 as the first half came to a close.
However, the Lady Wolves were 10 points better in the third quarter, 19-9, as they took a 41-37 lead going into the final quarter.
Ville Platte would not yield, as they rolled up 22 points in the fourth period to secure the win.
The Lady Bulldogs were led by Tyreonna Doucet, who knocked down 17 points and Miya McKinney who added 11 points. Ville Platte finishes the year at 25-7.
Meanwhile, the Sacred Heart Lady Trojans took to the court on Friday night on the road in Grand Coteau, as they battled the Academy of Sacred Heart.
The Lady Trojans utilized their entire bench, as 11 players scored in the contest in a 60-22 blowout of the Lady Firebirds.
Sacred Heart hit on all cylinders from the start, outscoring the Academy of Sacred Heart 17-8 in the first quarter and 18-6 in the second period to lead 35-10 at the half.
The Lady Trojans only managed eight points in the third quarter, but lit up the scoreboard in the final period by tacking on 17 more points.
Sacred Heart was led by Catherine Poche with 21 points. The Lady Trojans finish with a 13-12 overall record and will await to see where they will land in the Division III playoff bracket.