Strong starts

Published 12:00 am Sunday, January 9, 2011

The coaching staff stressed getting off to a good start to the New Iberia Senior High girls’ basketball team this week.

The Lady Jackets followed that game plan perfectly on Friday, blowing out to a 17-2 lead after one quarter and taking a 29-15 halftime lead on the way to a 50-32, non-district win over Patterson.

Jasmin Fusilier had 17 of her game-high 28 points in the first half for NISH, including 11 in the first quarter, many coming off either her own steals or long passes from teammates. Fusilier also had nine rebounds, four blocks and five steals on the night.

“I thought we did a good job of getting up and down the floor and getting layups,” said NISH head coach Robert Pinckney. “We also did a good job getting the ball to Jas. Since the Westgate game (in the Jeanerette tournament), when Jas had nine shot attempts, I told the girls we can’t win games if she doesn’t get more touches. She doesn’t have to shoot a lot more, but the offense has to go through our best player. The girls did a good job trying to get the ball to her.”

Fusilier started the scoring with a layup after blocking a Patterson shot and dribbling the length of the floor. She added a steal and another coast-to-coast layup a minute later, and finished the first-quarter scoring with another steal and layup. PHS managed only a basket by Keisha Kinchen at the 4:30 mark in the opening period.

The Lumberjills actually outscored NISH 13-12 in the second quarter with Malaysia Ruffin scoring 6 of her team-high 11 in the period, including a 3-point basket.

But NISH took control again in the third quarter despite point guard Shawanna Williams going down with an injury 90 seconds into the half. Williams, who was returning from an injury that had kept her out until Friday, hurt the same knee while stopping under defensive pressure near midcourt. Pinckney said Williams will likely play with pain for the remainder of the season because of the nature of her injury.

Patterson trimmed New Iberia’s lead to 12 points with a basket a few seconds after Williams left the game, but didn’t score again until nearly 3 1/2 minutes had elapsed, and NISH extended its lead to 35-17 with help from a 3-pointer by Moesha Kinard before the Jills finally broke their scoreless streak with a couple of free throws at the 3:01 mark.

New Iberia led 40-21 after three quarters. Kinard finished with 6 points for the Lady Jackets. Dynesha Gilliam had 8 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while Kalie St. Julien had a team-best five assists and Chynna Brooks led the Lady Jackets with a dozen rebounds.

After three quick quarters the pace slowed in the fourth as both teams got into the double bonus in the period. New Iberia went 4-for-8 in the quarter from the foul line and 11-for-20 for the game, while Patterson was 8-for-13 overall and 4-for-7 in the fourth period.

Iriana Burks finished with 10 points for PHS, including 4 in the fourth quarter.

New Iberia (11-7) plays at Midland on Monday.