VC basketball teams sweep Westminster Lafayette

  The No. 7 Vermilion Catholic Eagles completed the first round of District 6-1A play Tuesday with a 59-52 victory over the Westminster Christian Academy-Lafayette Chargers at Kim Guidry Gym.
 The Eagles (9-3, 4-0) have won their last six games and are in the driver’s seat in the district race.  They have a two-game lead with four to go.  Head coach John Thompson likes the spot his team is in.
 “We have three of our four remaining district games at home,” Thompson said.  “We start the second round Friday at home against Highland Baptist. Then we play Ascension Episcopal and Gueydan at home before we finish at WCA-Lafayette.  That’s going to be a tough one.”
On Tuesday against WCA, the Eagles jumped out to a 15-13 lead after one.  Jyrin Bessard scored eight of his game-high 20 points in the opening frame, including two three-pointers.
“He has a different motor,” Thompson said of his senior guard.  “When he’s on, he’s go, go, go.  I love it.  We must keep him out of foul trouble and let him play his game.”
VC began the second quarter on an 11-2 run to build a 24-15 lead with 6:21 to go in the half.  They expanded it to 20 at 39-19 before the Chargers closed the half on a 7-0 run to make it 39-26 at the break.
 The Eagles expanded the lead back to 19 early in the third before WCA made a run.  The Chargers cut the lead to 50-35 at the 2:18 mark before ending the frame down 52-41.
  Points were at a premium in the fourth, with the Eagles still up double digits, 55-45, with five minutes to go in the game.  WCA got as close as 57-52 with two minutes left before Bessard scored his final two points from the charity stripe to provide the final margin.
 Thompson thought his team showed what they were made of by weathering the storm down the stretch. 
 “It’s grit,” Thompson said.  “We’ve had close games this year.  We’ve given up runs. We’ve given up some leads.  These guys don’t blink.”
Dom Gautreaux joined Bessard in double figures with 13 points.  Jonathan Dartez had eight, while Will Simon scored seven.  Tre Hebert dropped six points, while Joe Langlinais added five.

VC  girls win big
            In the early game, the No. 13 Vermilion Catholic Lady Eagles dominated the Westminster Christian Academy-Lafayette Lady Chargers 68-25.
 VC (16-3, 6-0) raced out to a 27-6 lead after one as junior Ali Broussard scored 15 of her game-high 26 points in the opening frame.  They expanded the lead to 40-15 by halftime.  
 The Lady Eagles outscored WCA-Lafayette 28-10 in the second half to provide the final margin. 
Ten different players scored in the game for VC.  Broussard led the way with 26, while Brynn Broussard, Zoei Thibodeaux, and Keiya Green all scored nine points.  Anna Boudreaux and Jenna-Beth Hagle each added four points, while Jolie Broussard, Audrey Boudreaux, and Evelyn Vincent scored two points, and Bree Thomassee scored one.
Both teams hosted Highland Baptist on Friday.  They also host Ascension Episcopal on Tuesday before welcoming parish-rival Erath on Wednesday.