Bruce Brown

Lafayette High’s Lady Lions expect to win every time they take the court, and so far they’re perfect.

When coach Cade Methvin’s squad survived a challenge with a 47-45 victory on the road at Sulphur on Tuesday night, it raised their record to 19-0 overall and a spotless 3-0 in District 3-5A competition.

LHS finished the 2010-11 campaign with a 28-4 record, bowing out in the state quarterfinals with a loss to Southwood, so Methvin isn’t shocked at the fast start. The trick is to keep performance levels high every night.

"I felt like we would have a good season," Methvin said. "We have a bunch of ways to win. Some teams have good shooters, some are athletic, some will press you. We have all that. If someone takes something away, we can go to something else."

Lafayette returned five starters from last year’s 28-4 team. All are seniors — point guard Jasmine King, guard Armanee’ Broussard, post Sabre’ Sarradet, small forward Luv Blackburn and power forward Adrienne Prejean — and it is a battle-tested group.

"Some of them started as freshmen or sophomores," Methvin said. "They’ve played together for four years — two years for Casey (Delhomme) and last year and this year for me — and they know each other well.

"Their roles are well-defined. Armanee’ can shoot from the outside, Jasmine can penetrate and get the ball to others, Luv is a passer and is unselfish, Adrienne can play the high post and Sabre’ can dominate the backboards."

There have been close calls like the win over Sulphur and a 55-53 decision over St. Thomas More, but many of Lafayette’s games have been one-sided. Methvin’s job is to keep pushing the right buttons.

"Sometimes it’s hard to keep them getting better and better," he said. "I keep telling them not to look at our record, to think of it as being 0-0. They tend to get satisfied and complacent. But I tell them, don’t be satisfied."

The next test of that focus comes tonight at LHS, when the Lions host an Acadiana High team that spanked Barbe 48-36 on Tuesday to improve to 8-8 and 2-1 in District 3-5A.

"Sulphur will always be a contender," Methvin said. "She (Helen LeFevre) has done a good job for many years. The surprise is Barbe (now 15-5). It looks like Catherine Cassidy has them believing what she’s telling them at Acadiana."

But the Lions aren’t afraid to look beyond the district race.

"We talk about the playoffs sometimes," Methvin said. "We talk about other 5A teams that are doing well, teams we use as a measuring stick. Southwood is undefeated, as we are, and has all its players back but one. I hear Ouachita is big, with a 6-3 and a 6-4 player. And Natchitoches Central is always athletic and will be up there."

The Lions plan to be up there, too, and Methvin sees signs that they have the maturity to handle the challenge ahead.

"One of the biggest things is, you always teach your players what to do in certain situations," he said. "A lot of times, that makes us better. Well, at times our players will decide on their own during a timeout or a free throw what might be good to run and they’ll bring it up.

"I try to give them that freedom. At the same time, they’ll do what I want done."

Those players are also willing to work for their success.

"You can say you have the will to win, but are you willing to do what’s necessary?" Methvin said. "Will you do the dirty work? The rebounding? Are you willing to go without points if it makes your teammate better? Our players accept their roles, and are willing to do what it takes."

Lafayette’s roster is peppered with athletes from its successful volleyball and track programs, so they come equipped with winning as a way of life.

"You get used to winning," he said. "You expect to win. That’s a huge thing."

So far, it’s a perfect

19-0 thing.

Athletic Network Footnote: Cade Methvin was a UL baseball player, 1995-99 and graduate assistant, 1999-2000.

Click here for a photo of Cade and his 1999 teammates.