Westlake ends historic season as state runner-up

Published 8:00 am Saturday, March 7, 2026

The Westlake Rams’ historic season didn’t end the way they had hoped on Friday at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association girls state basketball tournament in Hammond. Playing in a championship game for the first time in program history, held multiple leads in the first half, but No. 1 French Settlement pulled away in the second half of the Non-select Division III finals to win 44-36.

It was the third consecutive season that Westlake (21-5) played in the state tournament and fourth in program history. French Settlement (31-3) won its first state championship since 1964.

The Rams’ shooting percentages were better than the Lions’, 44 to 35 percent on field goals, and they made 50 percent of their three-pointers. However, the Rams experienced some prolonged cold spells that hindered them down the stretch.

Hallie Wilrye broke up a French Settlement pass that turned into a jump shot by Ivy Broussard in the lane. That cut the Lions’ lead to 28-25, but the Rams made just one shot over the next four minutes and 39 seconds. French Settlement surged ahead with a 13-2 run and led 41-27 at the start of the fourth quarter.

After a 3-pointer by Alicia Cuppens 11 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Rams went without a field goal for more than six minutes, plus four turnovers.

Junior guard Ivy Broussard gave the Rams their first lead, 11-8, on a three-pointer with eight seconds left in the first quarter. That was part of a 9-0 run as Westlake built up a 15-8 lead two minutes into the second quarter. But then the Rams went quiet, with just one field goal the rest of the quarter, allowing the Lions to flip the score and take a 22-18 lead into halftime.

Westlake freshman Laila Rousell had nine points, seven rebounds, and three blocks, while Wilrye added nine points, seven steals, and three assists.