Day 1 of Lafayette Chrisitan Academy's girls basketball New Year Tournament is in the books. Here are some standout players from some of the action.
Lafayette Christian Academy girls basketball is ringing in the new year with three days full of hoops as it kicked off its 2026 New Year Tournament on Jan. 2.
The Knights hosted several top teams not only from Lafayette Parish and the surrounding areas, but from across the state. Day 1 of the tournament pitted non-district foes against one another, competing in two different brackets: Gold and Platinum.
For some teams, the tournament marks the end of tournament play and a final chance to walk away with bragging rights. All teams were looking to leave it all on the court as they prepare for upcoming district matchups. Along the way, stars have risen in both victory and defeat.
Here are some standout players from the 337 in games played on Day 1 of LCA’s 2026 New Year Tournament.
Lafayette vs. Neville
Final score: Neville 52, Lafayette 37
Player of the Game: Karlyn Zachary, Lafayette
Summary: The Lions ended the first half with a one-point lead, but it didn’t last long as the Tigers took control in the second half. Despite the loss, senior guard Karlyn Zachary never gave up in Lafayette’s comeback attempt. She finished with a team-high 13 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Zachary: “I feel like offensively we didn’t do too bad. We just need to work on finishing under the goal and definitely making our free throws. I know I missed a lot personally, and that really could have made a difference in the game. Defensively, I think we also need to talk more.”
J.S. Clark Leadership vs. Simpson
Final score: Simpson 59, J.S. Clark 58
Player of the Game: Taylor Barnaba, J.S. Clark
Summary: After trailing by as many as 12 points, J.S. Clark battled all the way back, making it one of the closest games of the tournament. Leading the Bulldogs’ comeback effort was senior guard Taylor Barnaba, who drained a timely 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to make it a one-point game. She finished with a team-high 21 points, two steals and two rebounds.
J.S. Clark head coach Dewaskie Fuller: “Taylor’s been doing this for a long time. She just finds a way to do it no matter what. She keeps her head up and fights through adversity.”
Teurlings Catholic vs. Opelousas
Final score: Teurlings 67, Opelousas 38
Player of the Game: Justyse George, Teurlings
Summary: There was no stopping the Rebels, who jumped out to a double-digit lead early. Leading the offensive charge was senior guard Justyse George, who has paced the team all season. She nearly outscored Opelousas by herself, finishing with 35 points and a handful of rebounds. Forward Ja’Nia Sengal also played a key role, adding 18 points.
Teurlings head coach Alyssa Beal Credeur: “We started fast and played fast the whole game. We were diving on the floor and came out strong. Justyse is our scorer for sure. She never gives up, she’s all over the floor and she’s not scared of contact. She’s a one-of-a-kind player.”
Northwest vs. Abbeville
Final score: Northwest 47, Abbeville 37
Player of the Game: Zaria White, Northwest
Summary: After a low-scoring first quarter, Northwest ramped up its defensive effort, which led to more offense. By halftime, the Raiders were in control despite Abbeville’s comeback attempts. Junior forward Zaria White led Northwest with a team-high 25 points and nine rebounds, while also adding two blocks and two steals.
Northwest head coach Vanessa Taylor: “We executed on defense pretty well, but I wasn’t too happy with the third and fourth quarters. Zaria played well today and rebounded really well for us. We just want to finish tournament season strong.”
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Stars from Day 1 of LCA girls hoops New Year Tournament
Category: General Sports
