News Post

The St. Joseph’s Academy basketball team qualified for the 2021 LHSAA Girls Basketball Playoffs. The no. 5 seed Redstickers traveled to Scotlandville Magnet High School on February 24 to take on the no. 4 seed Hornets in a quarterfinal-round matchup. 

SJA fell 62-43 in a game that was close until midway through the third period. 

First-year coach Tim Waller expressed pride in his team. Throughout the year, they displayed the toughness necessary to overcome the challenges of a “COVID basketball season.”

“When faced with quarantines, daily playing restrictions and the possibility of forfeiting games, our team displayed fortitude and perseverance to achieve a winning season,” he said. “As a result, and despite losing our final game, the SJA basketball program will continue to strive for success and continue a winning program in the future. We are already planning and looking forward to the challenges and competitiveness next season will bring.” 

The Redstickers finished the season with a 13-9 record. Waller thanked all 22 members of the 2020-2021 squad who made the winning season a reality. “They have paved a path to transcend SJA basketball into a new era of perennial competitive high school basketball in the state of Louisiana,” he said. 

Senior Adelle Bourg said the biggest success of the year was the team’s overall improvement. She said the team grew tremendously under their new head coach. “Coach Waller really enhanced each person’s overall strengths and motivated us to do our very best,” she said. “He also helped us overcome the challenges of juggling school work and practices after long days. He was always checking in on us and making sure we were able to balance being a student-athlete.”

Sophomore Catherine Hultberg said she is most proud of the way the team came together to overcome the setbacks related to COVID. She said she’s excited to be part of the future of the program. “I look forward to continuing to make a name for St. Joseph’s Academy’s basketball program and having another successful season,” she said. “This season was just the beginning. I know that our entire team is just getting started, and we are going to have an even better season next year.”

Junior Emily Soignet said posting a winning record under a new coach was a rewarding accomplishment. She said the team trained and worked hard all year and that its determination paid off. “We kept pushing through, being there for each other and playing together as a team and having fun,” she said. “I think the most memorable thing about this season was bonding with each other in a way that we’ve never bonded before. I am looking forward to a great senior season. I really want to go far in the playoffs, and I feel like if we keep playing the way we are, we will have that opportunity. I also hope to be a role model to my younger teammates and show them that we are here to win.”

Junior Peyton Soignet said it was fun to watch players grow into leadership roles en route to a winning record. “Players were able to communicate and form relationships with the coaches,” she said. “The most memorable part of the season was building the bond we have with one another. That will carry into next year. For my senior year, I want to play every game and practice with as few mistakes as possible and bring this team all the way in the playoffs.” 

Junior Gifford Greer said being part of the team’s growth was a memorable experience. “I think the biggest success of the season was how far we have come,” she said. “Our coach is amazing and has taken us a long way. Next year, I think we all hope to continue to grow and get deeper into the playoffs than we did this year. We couldn’t have gotten to this point without Coach Waller. He really made us believe.”

Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director

Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Brown