A short-handed New Iberia Senior High girls basketball squad displayed its toughness at the Darrell Mitchell Holiday Classic last week, going 3-0 despite suiting up only six players at times.

The Lady Yellow Jackets (8-6) defeated Cecilia, Carencro and Breaux Bridge and are No. 25 in the Division I nonselect power ratings. NISH played at 8 P.M. on Friday night and again at noon on Saturday without players who were either sick or on vacation.

“It’s a next man up mentality,” said first-year head coach Rikola Henry, who spent the past few years working as an assistant on the boys team. “Whoever we got, that’s who we’re going to roll with.”

Jarissa Davis, a transfer from Lafayette Christian, scored 10 points (all in the second half) in the 33-19 win over Breaux Bridge. Lyric Hill led all scorers with 14 points. Ja’Kyalynn Washington added six and Zailey Hall chipped in three points. 

“We’re trying to get Jarissa into more of a scoring role,” Henry said. “She’s a point guard first who cares about getting her teammates’ shots. Ja’Kyalynn and Lyric have been our leading scorers the last few games.”

Robertson scored 19 points and Hill had 16 in a 47-23 win over Carencro. Tasia Robertson and Davis added five points apiece. Ahriyel JeanBaptiste contributed two points.

“We’re sophomore heavy,” Henry said. “Lyric played in spurts last year as a freshman. Her ceiling is really high. She’s athletic and doesn’t mind working.”

Washington’s 15 points paced NISH to a 45-41 win over Cecilia in the first day of the Holiday Classic at St. Martinville Senior High. Hill (14) and Davis (10) were both in double figures.

“I talk to them all the time about changing the culture,” Henry said. “We’re trying to get back to the winning side. We’re taking bumps and bruises here and there. 

“We’re learning. I ask a lot of them, not just basketball but outside of basketball. We’re trying to change the foundation.”

Henry, who is Davis’ uncle, has experience coaching the girls team in the past. He has a daughter in eighth grade who will be at NISH next year.

“The future is on the upside with girls wanting to come play,” Henry said. “The school has been really good to me. I was with the girls before, so to be able to come back after gaining experience with the girls, it’s fun.”