Lady Bengals have great expectations

By Tom Dodge
sportsenews@bellsouth.net

LSU-Eunice head basketball coach Michael Bari has grown accustomed to replacing players and reloading talent over the first five years he has directed the Lady Bengal program.
This year is no exception but he has to replace two players who poured in over 35 points per game with the transfer of Candace LaCombe to McNeese and the departure of sophomore Quanessa Batiste.
But the cupboard is not bare for Bari as he will depend on six returners for success this season.
Jennifer Hicks, Amanda Fontenot, Amelia Broussard, Sierra Goldwire, Nicollete Calvin and Kassie Latiolais return for their sophomore season.
“Jennifer has turned out to be a gem for us,” Bari said of the sophomore forward from Bossier City. “We are expecting big things from her as she has stepped up to be a leader.”
Hicks averaged 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds her freshman season.
Fontenot was forced to sit out the first nine games with a knee injury early in the season a year ago, but finished scoring 6.2 points per game with 154 assists from her point guard position.
“She is a solid player and she should have a great year,” the coach said.
Goldwire averaged 8.0 points and 8 rebounds a game last season for the Lady Bengals.
“As she adjusted to our style of play she got more confident,” the coach commented. “She can be somebody who can get you 20 points and 10 rebounds in a hurry.
“She is key to our season,” the coach said. “She has to be able to play the center spot and be consistent as she can be in double-digit figures, then she is doing a good job for us.
“She is the third key cog in what we have to do.”
Sophomores Broussard, Calvin and Latiolais should also contribute this season, according to Bari.
“They are trying to earn a spot,” he said. “They have done real well over the summer but we will see how they have developed against our incoming players.
“They are working hard and you want to give them playing time just from their efforts.”
Bari said he has at least 11 newcomers who will arrive on campus next month.
Quineshia Tillman from Edna Karr, Shana Howard from Acadiana High, Bethany Evans from Houston, Pearl River’s Kaitlyn Harper and Rayville’s Ashley Qualls and will dress out for LSUE.
Allison Ledoux from Basile, Carencro’s Erica Noel and Sydney Lemoine from St. Joseph, along with Port Barre’s Bridget Cole are area players who will also join the Lady Bengals.
Vanishti Dotson is transfering from Southern-Shreveport while Felice Beaver is transferring from Northeast Oklahoma Community College.
“I like what I see so far,” Bari said. “We are much more athletic than the other five years I have been here.”
“I think we are going to be pretty good.”
LSUE finished 19-11 last year as Bari improved to 104-54 in his career with the Lady Bengals.
“We try to make people believe we are an offensive team as we run and try and put the shots up,” he said. “If we are going to score 100 points the other team is also going to score because they are going to have more possessions.
“The bottom line is we have to be able to stop teams down the strength if they do stay with us offensively then we have to stop them.
“If you don’t have a bunch of one-on-one defenders then you are not going to have a good team defense.
“I think we have that this year,” the coach said. “But we need to develop our offense.”
LSUE opens the season Nov. 1 in Georgia, while the Lady Bengals’ home opener will be Nov. 6-7 in their annual tournament.