by Malcolm Butler
You can’t put a price tag on experience.
And Cedar Creek head coach Katie Hall hopes last year’s run to the Select School Division IV state title game will pay dividends when her No. 4 seeded Lady Cougars face No. 1 seed — and defending state champion — Southern Lab Wednesday.
Tip-off at the University Center on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond is set for 2:45 p.m. in the second semifinal contest of the day (OCS will face JS Clark at 1 p.m.).
“It’s familiarity,” said Hall. “Even with the (travel) routine. We did it twice last year. We are doing all the same things we did (from a travel standpoint) last year.”
Senior guard Caroline James recalled her feelings when she walked into the University Center for last year’s semifinal.
“I just remember being so excited,” said James. “It was a big arena. It was my first time making it to the semifinals. I think our entire team was buzzing because we knew what we were capable of.”
Junior guard Mary Grace Hawkins has her own recollection.
“It was amazing,” said Hawkins. “It was a big atmosphere. It was a college court. It was really different then walking into a high school gym.”
So, were there nerves?
“Not really,” said James. “Surprisingly. Maybe before, but not once I walked into the arena.”
“Yes,” said Hawkins. “I remember thinking this is it. This is the last game. It matters. We have to play as a team.
“I feel like last year’s experience is an advantage. We’ve been there before. We have experienced this … the big court and all the fans. I think it will help us.”
Cedar Creek practiced Sunday night at the Thomas Assembly Center in preparation for the larger arena.
The top-ranked Kittens (26-5) has dominated this year and is looking for its third straight title, and fourth in the last five years. Southern Lab defeated Cedar Creek 67-57 in a down-to-the-wire contest in the 2025 state title game.
And although both teams return plenty of contributors from that contest, both also lost some.
“Southern Lab graduated their star from last year’s team, and we lost some key players,” said Hall. “They are good, but so are we.”
Southern Lab’s five losses this year have come against Zachary (5A), John Curtis (5A), Oak Grove (2A), University Lab (3A), and Madison Prep (3A). Four of the five losses came by six points or less.
Hall said in order to advance to a second straight title game, her team will have to do the fundamentals and do them at a high level.
“We have to take care of the ball, and limit turnovers,” said Hall. “We need some offensive putbacks. We have to crash the boards and win the rebounding battle.
“We need to be ourselves, nothing extraordinary. Just be really good at the basics, the fundamentals. Just be really good at what we do and who we are.
“We like to play with pace. We are a better team when we are playing with pace. That’s who we are.”
James and Hawkins agree.
“We have to play our game,” said James. “We have to play exceptional defense. I think that’s where we really shine. When we play good defense, it results in good offense.”
“If we play as a team and play good defense,” said Hawkins. “Defense wins games. We need to be tough. We need to trust each other and share the ball.”
Only four of Southern Lab’s wins this year have been by single digits and their two playoff wins have been 67-13 over Highland Baptist and 71-21 over Sacred Heart.
Cedar Creek (22-8) advanced to the semifinals with a 58-8 win over Opelousas Catholic and a 53-18 win over St. Mary’s.
The Lady Cougars are departing today and will practice at the P-Mac tonight.
