North Vermilion Lady Patriots reload for another season

LEROY – The North Vermilion Lady Patriots picked up right where they left off with a 48-20 victory over the Beau Chene Lady Gators in the Lady Pats Thanksgiving Classic on Monday.
 The Lady Pats (2-0) return three starters from last year’s 29-3 squad that reached the quarterfinals of the Division II Non-Select playoffs.  Reigning District 4-4A and Vermilion Parish MVP Makenzie Marceaux and rebounding machine Stevie Brasseaux are back for their senior campaign, while junior point guard Reagan Semien appears focused and ready to elevate her game.
    “Kenzie was the District MVP last year,” said Lady Pats’ head coach Jack LeBlanc.  “Stevie came out of nowhere.  She wasn’t even a projected starter, but she got her shot, ran with it, and had a phenomenal season.  As a sophomore, Reagan ran the point.  She’s been working extremely hard with a personal trainer during the offseason.  She’s going to have a breakout junior year.”
  Super sophomore Ashante Rose joins the starting five this year after being the sixth man as a freshman.
 “Ashante gave us that spark coming off the bench last year,” LeBlanc continued.  “She’s going to start this year, but she got hurt in the opener against Cecilia.  She’ll be out for a few weeks.”
 LeBlanc expects heavy contributions from the junior class.  Chloe LeBlanc, Charli Knickerbocker, and Ellery Dupuy will be relied upon to play the role of last year’s seniors.
   “Those girls have been playing together since middle school,” LeBlanc said.  “They can play multiple positions, they’re intelligent, highly coachable, and do all the right things.  They’re great kids.  Those three are expected to fill the void from the girls we lost last year.”
  With the core from last season returning and the potential of his newcomers, LeBlanc expects to continue competing at a high level.  He also realizes his team has gone from the hunter to the hunted. As district champs, the Lady Pats have a target on their backs.
   “The expectations are high,” LeBlanc said.  “We played some of the top teams in the state this summer and went toe-to-toe with them.  I don’t expect any drop off.
 “I expect to compete for another district championship, but we’re not sneaking up on anybody this year.  We play STM twice, Teurlings has everybody back, and Northside has a new coach.”
Against Beau Chene, the Lady Pats jumped out to a 9-3 lead after one quarter.  They expanded it to 23-12 at the break before putting the game away in the third quarter with a 19-0 burst that spanned the entire frame and built a 42-12 advantage.  The Lady Gators won the final quarter 8-6 to provide the final margin as NV let off the gas.
    Marceaux led all scorers with 16 points.  Semien was right on her heels with 15 while Brasseaux tossed in five.  Chloe LeBlanc dropped four points, Gabby Caruso notched three, Livi Broussard and Rhyan Dubois each scored two, and Dupuy added one.
  In other Lady Pats Thanksgiving Classic action, the Abbeville Lady Wildcats fell to the Westlake Lady Rams 50-32.  Armani Bashay led the Lady Cats with 12 points.  The Kaplan Lady Pirates fell to the Northside Lady Vikings 42-20.  Ajia Comeaux led the Lady Pirates with 13 points.  The Erath Lady Bobcats fell to the Catholic High of New Iberia Lady Panthers 40-31.  Kayleigh Perro led the Lady Bobcats with 11 points.
 The tournament continued on Tuesday with Abbeville tackling Beau Chene, North Vermilion challenging Kinder, Kaplan facing Church Point, and Erath taking on AES.