John Burson
CECILIA – The Eunice High School Lady Bobcats dropped a 53-44 decision to the Cecilia High Lady Bulldogs in non-district basketball action.
The Lady Bobcats, now 7-3, were outscored 9-8 in the first quarter, with Cordel Batiste leading the Lady Bulldogs with seven points.
Jesslyn Reed and Shania Malveaux scored four points apiece for the Lady Bobcats.
Cecilia extended their lead by outscoring the Lady Cats 13-9 in the second quarter, with Batiste leading the way with nine points as the Lady Bulldogs claimed a 22-17 lead at the half.
Stacie White and Leah Walker scored three points apiece in the quarter to lead the scoring for the Lady Bobcats, but White found herself in foul trouble heading into the second half of the contest.
Cecilia would take a expand their lead in the third quarter behind the scoring of Batiste and Nia Fontenette, who combined for 13 of the team’s 17 points in the quarter.
Reed managed four points to lead the Lady Cats, who trailed 39-27 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Bobcats managed to cut into the Lady Bulldogs’ lead in the final quarter, outscoring Cecilia by a 17-14 margin.
Walker led the Eunice scoring with six points and Reed added three, but the Lady Cats were unable to overcome the Cecilia lead.
Reed topped the scoring for the Lady Cats with 13 points.
Walker added 11 and Malveaux finished with six points. Toussaint had five points as did White.
Batiste led the scoring for Cecilia with 27 points. Fontenette chipped in with 12 points.
The Lady Cats will open the 2017 St. Landry Parish basketball tournament against Port Barre 5 p.m. Thursday at the Eunice High gym.