|
Traditional high school girls
basketball power, Ellender (last year's state 5A champion), went ahead
by 12 points in the state 4A finals, yet state tournament newcomer St.
Michael the Archangel refused to give up. Instead, the Lady Warriors
pulled ahead 51-49 with a jump shot from sophomore guard, KK Babin, with
6.8 seconds remaining to seal the victory and become the class 4A state
champions.
It was also Babin, who is a consumate offensive floor leader, who led
the defensive surge in the Warriors win over Neville to put St. Michael
High School in the State Farm Louisiana High School Athletic Association
Ladies' Top 28 tournament for the first time ever in school history.
“My girls have worked as a true team this year both offensively and
defensively with only eight players on our roster,” said Tami Reynolds,
St. Michael High School Lady Warrior coach. "While we have lots of
individual talent, there are no ‘individuals’ and that is how we were
able to be so successful.”
St. Michael High School became the third Baton Rouge team to win the 4A
title in four years, following Glen Oaks (2006 and 2007) and Capitol
Pre-College Academy for Girls (2005).
“The title means respect,” said Jasmine Scott, who finished with a
game-high 26 points and nine rebounds. “Nobody believed we could get
this far, much less win, except for us.”
In addition to winning the state 4A title, St. Michael High School was
also honored on the All-Metro and All-State teams. Senior Jasmine Scott
made the first team on the Class 4A All-State basketball team and was
named to the 2008 All-Metro basketball team. Sophomore Jeanne Kenney
made the second team on the Class 4A All-State basketball team and was
named to the 2008 Al-Metro basketball team. Head Coach Tami Reynolds was
named the 2008 metro, city and state Coach of the Year.
Honorable mentions for the 4A All-State basketball team also went to KK
Babin and Jeanne Kenney of St. Michael High.
Scott was the District 7-4A MVP as well as the 4A title game MVP,
averaging 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds. Kenney averaged 13 points, 4.2
steals, and 3.3 assists. Coach Reynolds led St. Michael to a 36-4 record
and a state title in the school's first-ever appearance in the Ladies'
Top 28 Tournament, defeating two-time defending 4A champion Glen Oaks
and traditional power Ellender on the way to the top.
“I am honored by this, not just for me, but for the team and for our
assistant coach, David Fleshman,” said Reynolds. “What an awesome year!” |
