Myrtle Dixie Rouse Desmares
January 6, 2009Wilson Joseph Mabile
January 8, 2009
It’s been a rough start to the season for the Central Lafourche Lady Trojans.
A series of injuries and illness, coupled with an academic issue rendered fourth-year head coach Mike Bonura’s squad helpless for the early part of this season.
The good news is that when the Lady Trojans were able to field their whole starting rotation on the court, they were competitive. They defeated Hahnville earlier in the season 43-42 in what was the first game the entire roster was able to play.
After suffering through a 15-17 record last season and finishing fifth with a 3-9 record in District 8-5A, the Lady Trojans looked to return this season with redemption on the mind.
From the time the Lady Trojans opened district play, a loss to Thibodaux on Dec. 16, to last night’s district game against Terrebonne, the Lady Trojans have had nearly three weeks to get reacquainted with each other on the court.
“We’re not making excuses,” the coach noted. “We just haven’t played together enough right now. If we want to be competitive in this district, we have to help these girls get their conditioning back. “
He added, “Collectively, our starters have missed 19 games because of one reason or another. We’re going to use this holiday to try and get things right.”
For the Trojans, getting back into game-shape rests on the heels of their two returning starters, senior Kiera Smith and junior Kayla Gregory. Smith carried the Lady Trojans last season, averaging 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Gregory is the team’s assists leader averaging 4.1 per outing.
They, along with fellow starters, juniors Erica Robinson and Brittany Rister and sophomore Chelsea Curole, are expected to keep the Lady Trojans competitive once district play resumes.
Bonura said his team cannot recoup the lost time to injuries and other distractions, but the team is going to do what it takes to get prepared for the remainder of district play.
“There is no doubt in my mind that we can compete,” he said.
However, with the injuries, reserve players Lanie Orgeron (junior) and sophomores Sadie Caillouet, Raven Naquin and Kandice Porter, were able to gain quality playing time. Bonura hopes this will give the Lady Trojans more depth, as they get deeper into district.
To the coach, the main concern is district. Regardless of what happened early in the season, he wants the Lady Trojans to put it behind them and turn that adversity into something to build on.
“It’s starting over,” Bonura said. “District play is a whole new season. We have everyone back now. We believe in ourselves. It’s just up to us to come out and finally put it all together.”
With the district as tough as it is from top to bottom, Bonura knows it’ll take his team’s best effort every game to keep the Trojans afloat.
The Central Lafourche Lady Trojans have had to overcome a little bit of everything this season from injuries to academic issues. With district play now in full force and their entire roster back together, the Lady Trojans look to remain competitive. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER
