State of the Program: St. James girls basketball looks to return to championship form
Not too long ago, St. James girls basketball was the team to beat in Louisiana.
In 2010-11, the Wildcats had the best season in program history — capped by a state championship win over Avoyelles — led by arguably the best player in program history in guard Brandi Jeffrey, who went on to play collegiately at Nebraska.
Since then, St. James has been one of the better teams in LHSAA girls basketball — but hasn't yet returned to the state title game, coming out of Class 3A District 8.
The tradition
The Wildcats have qualified for the LHSAA playoffs eight times in the last nine years, with only the 2021-22 team, who finished 10-19, breaking the streak.
Last year's team managed to get back to its winning ways. The '22-23 squad improved by four wins, finished five games over .500 in the regular season, and even started a new streak: St. James qualified for the postseason.
More basketball: State of the Program: H.L. Bourgeois boys' basketball looks to recapture good old days
The challenge
While the Wildcats have been getting to the playoffs with consistency, the team's biggest issue is winning once they get to mid-February.
More basketball: State of the Program: Houma Christian boys basketball looks to continue rebuild under Jones
St. James has gone five years since their last playoff win, and even in that postseason — 2018, where the Wildcats beat Washington-Marion 49-46 in the first round — ended short of the title, as Carroll managed to defeat St. James in the second round.
Expectations
The Wildcats will make the LHSAA playoffs this season, and make nine trips in the last decade. However, it's impossible for anyone to know in November whether St. James will finally take the next step in February and finally win another playoff game.
The schedule
Nov. 14: @ Booker T. Washington-New Orleans
Nov. 16: @ Kenner Discovery Health Science
Nov. 20-21: Dunham Tournament (@ Dunham)
Nov. 28: @ Collegiate Baton Rouge
Dec. 7: vs. Kenner Discovery Health Science
Dec. 11: vs. Riverside Academy
Dec. 14: @ John Ehret
Dec. 15: @ Frederick A. Douglass
Dec. 19: vs. Booker T. Washington-New Orleans
Dec. 21: vs. St. Charles
Jan. 2: vs. Lutcher
Jan. 9: vs. Berwick*
Jan. 12: @ E.D. White*
Jan. 19: @ Patterson*
Jan. 23: vs. Donaldsonville*
Jan. 25: vs. Ascension Catholic
Jan. 26: @ Berwick*
Jan. 30: vs. E.D. White*
Feb. 6: vs. Patterson*
Feb. 9: @ Donaldsonville*
*Class 3A District 8 game
This article originally appeared on The Courier: State of the Program: St. James girls hoops looks to return to form
