Lady Pios slip past Abbeville

Posted January 18th, 2010
Notre Dame’s Lexi Trosclair pulls down a rebound Friday during the Lady Pios’ 50-48 District 5-3A victory over Abbeville. Trosclair scored 10 points in the contest.
John Korduner

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CROWLEY – The Notre Dame Lady Pioneers used a stifling defense in the final minutes Friday to erase a seven-point deficit and slip past league-favorite Abbeville, 50-48, in a pivotal District 5-3A contest at A.B. Dore gym.
The victory sent the Lady Pios to 16-5 overall and 3-0 in league play.
“We’re 3-0 (in district) and that’s a good spot to be in,” said ND coach Nolan Theriot following the victory. “The way we look at it, we need to win our home games and try to steal some on the road.”
Abbeville looked to have control of the game midway through the fourth quarter. The Lady Wildcats led 44-37 with just 3:32 remaining. In addition, they had a size advantage with Notre Dame’s Kylie Pannell having fouled out earlier in the frame.
That’s when Notre Dame’s defense took over.
“We needed a way to generate some offense so we started pressing,” said Theriot.”
That press paid off when Celia Charles hit back-to-back baskets off turnovers to cut the lead to 44-41. Taylor Simon followed with a 3-pointer to tie the game with just under two minutes to play.
“I think that 3-pointer was the dagger,” said Theriot. “Taylor really stepped up and hit a big shot for us.”
A pair of free throws by Derrian Gaspard gave Abbeville the lead back before Lexi Trosclair’s jumper knotted things back up. Charles then came through again, scoring with 42 seconds left to give Notre Dame a 48-46 edge.
Abbeville tied the game at 48 when Kiars Levine hit a shot off a turnover, but seconds later, Alex Boulet stole the ball at half court and passed to Trosclair for the eventual game winner with 10 seconds left on the clock.
Abbeville had one last chance but was unable to get a good look as time ran out.
“They came up with some big plays against us,” said Abbeville coach Ashley Broussard. “They are a good team, especially at home.”
Simon led a trio of Lady Pios in double figures with 17 points, eight of them in the fourth quarter.
Charles also scored eight points in the final frame to finish with 15 and Trosclair added 10. Alex Boulet chipped in four points while Mary Charles and Pannell each had two.
Gaspard paced the Lady Wildcats with 15 points and Levine and Ashantae Thibodeaux each had 11.
Notre Dame’s Pioneers weren’t as fortunate in the nightcap, falling to Class 3A’s No. 5 ranked Abbeville, 59-38.
Notre Dame went cold from the floor in the first quarter, scoring just two points.
They trailed 28-13 at the half and 39-29 after three quarters.
Kane Thibodeaux and Morgan Allen each scored 10 points in a losing effort. Stu Cook followed with seven points; Taylor Thibodeaux added six; B.J. Vidrine had three and Will Faulk had two.
Dion Perry scored a game-high 17 to lead Abbeville. Dameon Lavine added 12 points and Keelon Lee had 10.
Notre Dame returns to action Tuesday when the Pio play host to North Vermilion.