By LAMAR GAFFORD
Five Rapides Parish boys basketball teams are a step away from Marsh Madness in Lake Charles next week, if they can win one more time. Three – Peabody, Pineville and Rapides – host LHSAA quarterfinal playoff games tonight. Plainview goes to Rapides and Alexandria Senior High travels south for a tough test.
Although it held a seven-point lead at halftime Tuesday, the ASH team knew it could do better in its regional round game against Jesuit.
Answering the challenge, the Trojans defeated the Blue Jays, 78-58, to advance to the Division I select quarterfinals tonight in Lafayette against No. 1 seed St. Thomas More.
“We knew it was going to be a struggle because of how they space you out and nobody could shoot it,” ASH coach Lance Brasher said. “We felt like if we guarded like we are capable of guarding, we’d wind up wearing them down. This is one of the few games that we’ve played for four quarters defensively.”
The Trojans forced seven steals as senior guard Chavez Whitehead had four of those.
With that, the offense came alive as Whitehead’s controlled pace helped them get a rhythm. Whitehead had 18 points and eight assists as ASH only had nine turnovers in the game.
“We played with efficiency and effort,” Whitehead said. “We wanted it more.”
ASH also got a spark from senior Jaylin Johnson, who led in scoring with 23 points and four 3-pointers.
“In the second half, they trusted me,” Johnson said. “We had the same gameplan, but I was just hitting shots. If we play together, no one can beat us.
Jesuit was led by Brewer Nitcher’s 14 points.
PINEVILLE 65, ST. PAUL’S 61
Little changed in a year’s time as the Rebels defeated St. Paul’s in the Division I select regionals for the second straight season.
Senior guard Evyn Goree led the way with 20 points as the Rebels found themselves in a back-and-forth battle.
Pineville will host Edna Karr in the quarterfinals Friday for the right to head to the boys state tournament for the first time since winning the Class 3A title in 1990.
PEABODY 67, JOHN F. KENNEDY 37
A week-and-a-half’s worth of rest did not slow down the Warhorses as they defeated John F. Kennedy in the Division II select regionals Tuesday.
Trailing 20-19 at halftime, Peabody outscored the Cougars, 48-17, in the second half for a comfortable win.
“We made those adjustments on defense and we picked the tempo up,” Warhorses coach Charles Smith said. “We trapped a little bit more and harder and that turned the game around.”
Peabody will face another New Orleans team in the quarterfinals – this time welcoming L.B. Landry to the Emerald Palace on Friday.
RAPIDES 70, FAMILY COMMUNITY 25
It was also smooth sailing for the Mustangs as they made quick work of Family Community in the regional round of the Division V select bracket.
Rapides senior Christopher Newton scored 21 points and went 9-for-12 from the floor with three 3-pointers to pace his team. He also recorded three of Rapides’ 24 steals.
The Mustangs will once again play in-parish rival Plainview, playing in Lecompte tonight in the quarterfinals for the right to go to Lake Charles.
ARCHBISHOP HANNAN 57, BUCKEYE 37
The Panthers’ historic season unfortunately ended Tuesday as they lost to Archbishop Hannan in Covington.
While junior Gavin Hoffpauir led Buckeye with 18 points, it could not slow down 6-foot-6 Hawk forward Drew Timmons. Timmons scored a game-high 25 points in his fourth game back from an ankle injury.
The Panthers opened the year with 25 straight wins and added their first playoff victory in over 20 years.