Lady Pirates fall to Green Devils in playoffs

The Kaplan Lady Pirates basketball season came to an end with a 44-33 road-loss to the Plaquemine Green Devils in the first round of the Division III Non-Select playoffs Thursday night.
While no one expected the Lady Pirates to be in the playoffs when the season started, Kaplan head coach Tina Roy felt she had the better team and should have won the game.
“I don’t think we were ready to play,” said Roy. “I feel like we were the better team, but we played to their level.”
“The girls were intimidated. We went up 4-0, then they started pressing and we couldn’t take care of the ball. We missed so many layups and free throws. We were scared.”
The Lady Pirates were ahead 10-8 after one quarter of play. In the second quarter, Plaquemine outscored Kaplan 12-4 to take a 20-14 lead into the break.
The Lady Pirates won the third quarter 8-4 to cut the lead down 24-22 but went 3-13 from the free throw line in the frame. Plaquemine won the fourth 20-11 to provide the final margin.
For the game Kaplan shot 7-21 from the charity stripe.
Despite the loss, Roy is extremely proud of all her team accomplished in her first season at the helm.
“We did the unexpected this year,” Roy said. “Nobody expected us to be in the playoffs. These girls did something I didn’t even expect them to do.”
“When I got here this summer, I said what did I get myself into? But they put in the work, and now these seniors have laid the foundation for the greatness that is coming.”
Ma’Kayla Davenport led Kaplan with eight points in the game. Kirasten Ragas was right behind with seven. Aija Comeaux and Kylie Suggs each scored five. Lexi Greene added four. London Greene and Reagan Smith added two apiece.