Barbe’s District 3-5A opener came down to the wire, but the defending champs overcame a late deficit to beat Acadiana 42-40 Friday evening.

Maleigha James led the Bucs (15-6, 1-0) with 18 points and five steals. Daliannys Maldonado had eight points and three steals.

Down 39-36 with 3:28 left in the game, the Bucs changed the momentum with defense, forcing three turnovers in under a minute. Maldonado got a steal and was fouled on the ensuing fast break. Her two free throws pulled the Bucs within one with 2:45 left.

Barbe’s press forced the Rams into a 10-second backcourt violation, and Jordynn Blanchard hit a shot off a screen by Danyelle Wallace, who added a bucket of her own in the lane with 1:36 on the clock for a 42-39 lead.

Barbe turned the ball over with 15 seconds left. It looked like the Rams (15-9, 0-1) would go to the free throw line with 1.48 seconds when Zoe Spain was fouled, but a non-shooting foul was called and Sky Joseph’s 3-pointer when off the front of the rim at the buzzer.

Barbe sprinted to an 8-0 lead, forcing five turnovers in the first four minutes of the game and took its biggest lead with 2:42 left in the second quarter, 24-12. Acadiana shot 8.3 percent in the first quarter under intense pressure from the Bucs. Barbe forced 24 turnovers for the game.

But the Bucs struggled in the third quarter and the Rams opened the second half on an 11-3 run and took its first lead, 28-27, on a three by Spain. Barbe shot 13.3 percent in the third quarter.