Lady Tigers learning how to play winning basketball

To Thibodaux High Lady Tiger basketball coach Damon Robinson playing statistical basketball just isn’t good enough anymore. Instead, he wants his team – led by six seniors – to learn how to play winning basketball; something the coach believes is beginning to happen.

In each of his three years at the school, the Lady Tigers have made it to the playoffs only to get ousted in the first round each time.

The Lady Tigers have put teams on the floor that were quick, but perhaps not complete.

After finishing 22-9 overall and 10-3 in district last season, Robinson believes he finally has a complete team to accomplish big things this season.

“In the past, we were just guard-oriented teams that ran up and down the floor,” said the coach. ” We’re not that anymore.

“Now, we have every piece,” he continued. “We have shooters, ball handlers, height, post players. We’re still trying to find out what is going to be the effective part but, overall, this is the most skilled team I’ve had since I’ve been here.”

Led by the five starting seniors – all-district honorable mention center Kayla Jackson, all-district honorable mention power forward Jalissa McPhearson, all-district honorable mention strong forward Jhavon Lillie, second-team all-district selection shooting guard Darachia Johnson and point guard Phylashon Price – the Lady Tigers certainly appear to have the experience to learn from their mistakes of the past.

Fellow senior Lauren McMillan provides a spark of the bench along with juniors Kelsey Thibodaux, Kabrina Brown and Stacy Theriot and freshmen Kierra Triggs, Joycelyn Daggs, Chelsie Brown and Katelyn Murray.

Robinson credits his group of seniors for taking the initiative to go out as winners.

“If I had to choose a leader, it’s this group of seniors. They have been playing varsity ball for four years now,” he explained. “They’ve had a lot of ups and downs. All six of them have been a rough group but I think they have matured now. They are playing to win games. I think they know they can.”

The Lady Tigers’ athleticism is visible the minute the team walks into a gym, the coach said.

They also have the size, speed, fundamentals and talent to be a very good team. It’s just a matter of putting it all together according to Robinson.

In an effort to better prepare his team for next week’s district play, the Lady Tigers played other physical teams – University Lab, Helen Cox, Pope John Paul II, Mt. Carmel, E.D. Whiteand tonight’s foe, East St. John – to ready players.

Even though the team is currently 2-4, the quality of competition has given the coach something to build on heading into next Tuesday’s district opener against South Lafourche.

However, in order for his team to remain competitive, Robinson said they can’t afford to miss open shots and free throws like they’ve done in some of the early losses this season.

“We’ve played some really good teams early on and we have been our own worst enemy,” he admitted. “We’ve missed wide open shots and free throws, but I think this team is really coming together now at the right time. I think the kids are starting to buy into playing winning basketball.

“But at the end of the day we have to put the ball in the basket. It’s something we have to do with one week left before district play.”