Tom Dodge
The Lady Jays have advanced to the second round of the playoffs twice in the past three seasons.
St. Edmund seniors – Savannah DeVillier, Rebecca Benoit, Hannah Benoit, Anna Belle Fontenot, Mary Beth Lafleur and Tanzy Miller – are on a mission to take the team on another successful run this season.
“I am excited to have my six seniors on the court,” Erica Zaunbrecher said. “But they are good job about helping the younger players with what they need to know and do so we can be successful.”
Last season, the Lady Jays finished 13-13 overall in 2020, 4-1 in District 5-1A play.
St. Edmund fell in a last-second 56-55 heartbreaker at St. Martin’s Episcopal in the opening round of the LHSAA Division IV playoffs.
In 2019, the Lady Jays cruised to a 45-32 win over rival Sacred Heart of Ville Platte to open the playoffs before falling in the regional round to eventual state champions Lafayette Christian Academy.
In 2018, St. Edmund opened the post season with a 55-21 victory over St. Frederick but then lost to No. 2 Houma Christian in the regional round.
“It is always our goal to make the playoffs,” Zaunbrecher said. “This team is working on that mission and they want to push themselves to go further than they have before.
“They have that want and drive to get there.”
The Lady Jays have to replace graduated first team all-district performer Kinsley Marcantel, but Zaunbrecher said the team has several key returning players led by DeVillier, a four-year starter for the Lady Jays.
DeVillier was named All-District second team in 2020, while Tanzy Miller was named first team all-defensive team.
DeVillier, Lafleur and Rebecca Benoit were named to the all-district list in 2019.
Along with the six seniors, the Lady Jays are led by juniors Greta Miller and Rylie Johnson.
Sophomore Lady Jays are Alice Brown, Mary Helen Miller, Helen Brown, Madison Comeau and Julia Zaunbrecher.
Freshmen players are Anna Chapman, Sabey Coleman, Laura Beth Zaunbrecher and Kate Miller.
“After the starters we also have players who can come in off the bench and contribute,” Zaunbrecher said. “It doesn’t interrupt or change our play.
“We can do the same thing no matter what group of five is on the floor.”
The Lady Jay coach said she is a more defensive minded coach, but is confident her offense will be able to put up points.
“We have speed and height this year so that is a plus,” Zaunbrecher said.
“We have a lot of depth this year,” she said. “It will help us throughout a game and the season.”
Zaunbrecher said this team continues to display the Lady Jay tradition of discipline and hard work.
Zaunbrecher said team depth is even more important early in the season.
“We have volleyball at our school now so we have to adjust our schedule,” Zaunbrecher said. “Schools who don’t have volleyball have been practicing since Oct. 12.
“I got my full team back together the second week of November so we didn’t have much time together before the season started.”
Zaunbrecher said the Lady Jays’ schedule is a challenging slate.
“We have some competition against some bigger classification teams,” she said. “We are challenging ourselves to always get better.”
St. Edmund will hold its own tournament Dec. 28-30.
“We are guaranteeing three games to the teams who come in,” she said. “It should be an exciting three days.”
The coach said she is concerned on how COVID-19 could change the schedule.
“We are prepared to be flexible this year and do what we can to play,” she said. “We are thankful to even have a season.”