Tom Dodge
Houma Christian used its first-round bye to rest up as the No. 2 Lady Warriors rolled to a 74-40 win over No. 15 St. Edmund Monday in the LHSAA Division IV basketball playoffs.
Houma Christian (27-2) will now face No. 7 St. Mary’s (18-11) today in the quarterfinals, while the Lady Jays finish the season at 11-17.
The two teams battled early as Houma Christian held a 17-10 first quarter lead.
Gabby Fontenot led the Lady Jays with four points in the opening period, while Abby Miller, Maggie Larriviere and Savannah DeVillier also scored in the quarter.
The Lady Warriors exploded for a 22-8 second quarter run to push ahead, 39-18 at the break.
Fontenot and Kinsley Marcantel drilled treys for the Lady Jays, while Miller added a bucket in the period.
Breanna Harding scored six of her seven points in the second period for the Lady Warriors.
Dalesia Williams and Xariel Washington both scored six points in the frame.
Houma Christian outscored the Lady Jays 19-11 in the third period to increase its margin to 58-29.
Fontenot led St. Edmund with six points in the period, while Miller and Larriviere also scored buckets.
DeVillier hit a free throw to finish with three points.
Williams led Houma with seven points in the quarter.
The Lady Warriors sealed the win with a 18-11 surge in the final quarter, led by Dalesia Williams’ seven points.
Fontenot finished with 18 points to lead the Lady Jays, while Miller chipped in eight points and Larriviere added six points.
Marcantel contributed five points and DeVillier had three points.
Williams led all scorers with 26 points.
Washington pushed in six points in the quarter to finish with 16 points.
Kourtne Lee added five points to close with 13 points for the Lady Warriors.
St. Edmund opened the playoff with a 55-21 victory over St. Fredrick.
It was the Lady Jays’ first playoff win since 2013 when St. Edmund advanced to the Class 1-A state quarterfinals.