Mandeville (22-3), the No. 11 seed, continues its playoff run this week as the Lady Skippers head to the Ladies Top 28 Tournament being held in the University Center on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond March 1-6.

The youthful Mandeville squad coached by T.A. Ricks has a big task at hand as they go up against the No. 2 seed and undefeated Southwood Lady Cowboys (36-0) out of Shreveport.

Southwood knocked Mandeville out of the playoffs 48-33 in the bi-district round last season.

HANNAH TRACEY

Coach Ricks in his 20th season with the Lady Skippers said his club has its work cut out for it.

“Southwood is a very good team with height. They have three tall players from 5-10 to a little over six feet with height coming off the bench,” Ricks said.

“We will have to be able to score and push the basketball. We have to keep them off the boards because they are strong inside. We have to try to limit their shot attempts,” Ricks added.

Ricks said his team has to enter the game like it’s a district championship game and not be in awe of the surroundings.

“I think with the large enthusiastic crowd for our home quarterfinal game against St. Thomas More our players got a little caught up in the emotion of the crowd. It took us awhile to settle down,” Ricks remarked.

The Lady Skippers turned the ball over 10 times in the first quarter in Thursday’s 57-53 victory over St. Thomas More before settling down. The Lady Skippers did a better job of taking care of the basketball in the next three quarters, but still finished with 20 turnovers, which they will have to correct going against a talented Southwood club.

Mandeville’s defense has been solid in the three-playoff victories. The lady Skippers topped No. 22 Hahnville 64-54 in bi-district following up with a thrilling 55-53 regional round victory over No. 6 seeded Terrebonne. MHS advanced to the semifinals taking a 57-53 home victory over No. 3 seed St. Thomas More (31-4).

The Lady Skippers feature a balanced scoring attack averaging 55 points per game, while allowing just 42.5 points per contest.

Sophomore Katie Lindelow tops MHS averaging 13.5 points per game.

Lindelow continues to sparkle in the clutch as she leads the Lady Skippers with 306 total rebounds, averaging 12.2 boards per game. Lindelow also gets things done on the defensive end topping her team with 124 steals.

Lindelow has scored 36 points in the playoffs second most for her team.

Sophomore guard Elizabeth Manuel chips in with 12 points per game and is second on the team with 113 steals. Manuel has tallied 14, 11 and eight points in the playoffs, third most on the club. Sophomore Hannah Tracey chips in with 11.2 points per game and is second on the team with 153 assists.

Tracey has risen to the occasion in the playoffs leading MHS with 51 points with 15, 17 and 19 points respectively. Tracey is third in rebounding with 127 caroms and has 79 steals.

Freshman guard Kali Koenig averaging 8.7 points per game is also helping to carry the scoring load with 30 points in the playoffs including 17 in the four-point victory over St. Thomas More in the quarterfinals. Koenig tops the Lady Skippers in the assist department with 154 and has 117 rebounds to her credit with 88 steals.

Kelsey Sparks, the only senior on the MHS roster, contributes six points per game and is second on the club in rebounds with 159 rebounds despite missing three games this season. Sparks has also collected 63 steals.