Tuesday, December 15, 2009

CENLA Area Report: DeRidder falls to Pineville

DeRidder, La. -


PINEVILLE—Lack of team chemistry proved to be costly to the DeRidder Dragons (10-5-1) soccer team Monday night when it lost 4-2 to Pineville at Pineville.

Michael Miller scored both goals for DeRidder.

The assists came from Caleb Taylor on the first goal and David Broussard on the second goal.

“We’re just not playing very well,” Dragons head coach David Wilber said. “We’re not playing together. We have tremendous individual players. We don’t have chemistry.”

Sean Austin played the first half at goalie for DeRidder and gave up two goals and Micah Prudhomme was the goalie for the second half and gave up two goals.

Wilber said he would figure out the problem, it would be fixed and the Dragons would be alright.

“We’ve got a good team,” Wilber said. “We’ve got good kids.”

The Dragons are back in action Friday and Saturday in the St. Louis Tournament.

Courtesy of the DeRidder Daily News

Lake Charles Area Report: St. Louis looking for right formula against hot Sulphur

By WARREN ARCENEAUX

AMERICAN PRESS

With a new head coach in place and an influx of football players just joining the team, St. Louis is still searching for the winning formula. Sulphur, with its entire starting lineup returning, is having no such problems while jumping off to a hot start.

The Saints will host the Tors tonight in a nondistrict game.

Sulphur head coach Clint LeBato said having so many veteran players has helped make up for a lack of practice time as the Tors have raced out to an 8-1 start.

“We have been doing pretty good for not having so much practice, we have only had four practices since the football players came in,” he said.

“All of the experience has helped. All of the guys know what is going on and know what is expected of them, they have been able to just get out there and play.”

The Tors return longtime stalwarts Chip Armelin and Matt LeBato. Coach LeBato said the supporting cast has also raised its level of play.

“Donovan Williams is giving us a boost inside,” he said. “Tanner Kuykendall is playing well at point guard. We have a pretty tough schedule and St. Louis is going to be another test. They beat us last year. We played them in a jamboree, but they were missing many of the players because of football.”

New Saints head coach Billy Dreher said his team has played pretty well despite not being able to work together much. The Saints are 6-5.

“We started off pretty good when we were able to work with the same group for four or five weeks, then the football kids come in, and it was another adjustment. Being a new coach, there was always going to be a transition. I thought it would take until January to get on the same page.

“I am pretty happy with where we’re at. We have been in every game but have been struggling down the stretch and with free throws. The kids are playing hard and getting used to what I like to do. If we had made free throws, we might be undefeated.”

Dreher said the Saints are capable of playing a variety of styles.

“I like to play a lot of different defenses and adjust to whoever we are playing. We can get up and down the court, but can also slow it down offensively. We can’t run up and down for 32 minutes with 4A teams.”

Courtesy of the American Press

Friday, December 11, 2009

Joseph Charles' 25 points lead Beau Chene past Catholic High of New Iberia

Joseph Charles shown below in action this summer with the
Louisiana D-1 Ambassadors led Beau Chene with 25 points
From staff reports


PRAIRIE BASSE — The host Beau Chene Gators cruised into the second round of the Francis Singleton Memorial Tournament with a respective first-round win on Wednesday night.

In the boys' game, the Gators improved to 6-4 on the year with a convincing 64-51 win over the Catholic High of New Iberia Panthers.

Joseph Charles scored a game-high 25 points as the Gators pulled out a 64-51 win over Catholic High in their first-round game.

Beau Chene took control from the outset, establishing a 16-6 first-quarter lead.

Devon Richard added 10 points for the Gators while Trenton Nzekwesi finished with nine points.


Courtesy of the Opelousas Daily World

Central football players focus on court, not Dome

Senior Josh Veals will help lead Central this season
Veals was also a key in the Wildcats 11-2 football season
By CHARLES SALZER

Special to The Advocate

CENTRAL — If the Central Wildcats had their minds on the Superdome instead of a basketball tournament, it didn’t show Thursday night.


Four of the Central starting five were prominent members of the Wildcats football team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs last month. Thursday, they helped Central move into the quarterfinals of the Charles T. Kinsley memorial basketball tournament with a 73-52 win over Tara.

Also moving into the quarterfinals were Natchitoches Central, a 63-40 winner over Denham Springs, and Destrehan, which cruised past Belaire 63-37.

In the losers bracket, Broadmoor edged St. Michael 49-47.

Central (4-2) was led by Wes Briscoe, who canned four 3-pointers and finished with 19 points. Brock Poydras had 15 for the Wildcats, who made nine 3-pointers as a team.

The Wildcats also got nine points from Josh Veals, seven from Jae Cutno and six from Will Briscoe, all familiar names to Wildcats football fans.

“It’s going good,” Central coach Sid Edwards said. “We’ve had two practices, and then we’re jumping into a long tournament. It will come together.

“The energy is there but the smoothness is not. We’re rough around the edges, but the kids are having a good time and playing hard. It’s a good start.”

Central led Tara (5-5) 34-23 at halftime, but the Trojans opened the third quarter with a 7-2 run to pull within 36-30. Joseph Kirk, who led Tara with 15 points, had basket and a free throw to start the run.

Sam Harrison’s fast-break basket pulled the Trojans within six, but it was as close as they could get. Veals, Micah Tossas and Wes Briscoe each had baskets as the Wildcats moved in front 42-32.

Wes Briscoe then heated up from the outside hitting three long-range 3-pointers in the last 3:32 of the quarter. His first 3-pointer pushed the CHS lead to 45-34. The second made it 51-37 with less than two minutes left.

His third 3-pointer, with 23 seconds left in the quarter, gave the Wildcats a 54-39 cushion heading into the fourth quarter.

Tara scored first to start the fourth quarter, but could get no closer than 15 points the rest of the game.

“That was a big win tonight against a good team,” Edwards said. “It’s easy to sit there and see what’s wrong, but, again, we’ve had just two practices (since football ended). We’ll correct things, and hopefully get a little better.”

Central used a hot streak from Poydras to move in front in the first quarter. Keith Broom scored off an assist from Kirk to give Tara its only lead at 4-2. Wes Briscoe hit a 3-pointer, and Poydras added three more before the end of the quarter.

By the time Poydras nailed his third 3-pointer, all of which came from the top of the key, Central led 16-10 with less than two minutes left. Central led 19-12 heading into the second quarter.

Central built a 30-16 lead midway through the second, but Tara battled back with a 7-0 run capped by Sam Floyd’s inside basket off an assist from Tyrred Nelson. Veals and Poydras each had baskets as Central took a 34-23 lead at halftime.

Natchitoches Central led Denham Springs 30-22 at halftime, and stretched the lead to 48-36 after three. The Yellow Jackets managed just four free throws in the fourth quarter as Natchitoches Central steadily increased its lead en route to a 63-40 win.

Natchitoches coach Micah Coleman said he was pleased with the way his team communicated on the floor.

“Teamwise, that’s the most we’ve talked all year,” Coleman said. “Denham Springs is a very good team, and to execute the way we did was a direct result of the way we communicated. We’ve been preaching that all year, and it seemed like it all clicked tonight.”

Courtesy of the Advocate

Baton Rouge Area Box Scores from Thursday's Games/Tournaments

Boys basketball


Dutchtown 61, Capitol 41

Capitol 9 7 10 15—41
Dutchtown 10 17 19 15—61

SCORING: CAPITOL: D. Hughes 10, R. Wright 8, B. Mack 6, M. Sibley 6, H. Paul 3, R. Stansberry 2, J. Harden 2, S. Winters 2, D. Hicks 2; DUTCHTOWN: S. Burgess 24, T. Cushenberry 12, D. Williams 9, D. Ester 9, J. Biagas 4, J. Williams 3.

3-POINT GOALS: Capitol 5 (Sibley 2, Hughes 2, Paul); Dutchtown 4 (Cushenberry 2, D. Williams, Burgess)

RECORDS: Dutchtown 3-4
JUNIOR VARSITY: Dutchtown 55, Capitol 26

Episcopal Round Robin

At Episcopal High School
Boys

Episcopal 67, Family Christian 41

Team leaders: EPISCOPAL: B. Bridgewater 21, R. Peterson 14, C. Plattsmier 12; FAMILY CHRISTIAN: T. Ray 14, Q. Jones 11.
Halftime: Episcopal 35, FCA 18

Ecole Classique 57, Ascension Catholic 42

Team leaders: ECOLE CLASSIQUE: Ruben 19, Hyde 14, Donnelly 11; ASCENSION CATHOLIC: M. Pearce 9.
Halftime: Ecole Classique 32, ACHS 22

E.D. White 49, East Iberville 47, OT

Team leaders: E.D. WHITE: Bourgeois 14; EAST IBERVILLE: Ballons 14, Johnson 13, Richardson 13.
Halftime: East Iberville 19, E.D. White 14
End of regulation: E.D. White 42, East Iberville 42
Brusly 61, University 51

Team leaders: BRUSLY: D. Jackson 18, K. Purnell 10; UNIVERSITY: L. Richard 20, D. Monk 17.
Halftime: Brusly 30, University 21

Today’s games
Ecole Classique vs. Family Christian, 4 p.m.
E.D. White vs. Brusly, 5:15 p.m.
East Iberville vs. Episcopal, 6:30 p.m.
University vs. Ascension Catholic, 7:45 p.m.

Scotlandville Challenge

At Istrouma
Boys

Istrouma 45, St. Amant 28

Team leaders: ISTROUMA: R. Knox 14; ST. AMANT: S. Fulkerson 12.
Halftime: Istrouma 14, St. Amant 8

Scotlandville 48, Northside 44

Team leaders: SCOTLANDVILLE: L. Wright 16, D. Washington 14, J. Thomas 12; NORTHSIDE: T. Montgomery 13.
Halftime: Northside 23, Scotlandville 19

Today’s games

Northside vs. St. Amant, 6 p.m.
Istrouma vs. Scotlandville, 7:30 p.m.

Newman Invitational

Brother Martin 56, Catholic 47

Team leaders: CHS: C. Ferrera 11, T. Breaux 10; BM: P. Swilling 20, Berger 11.
Halftime: Brother Martin 26, Catholic 17
Next game: vs. East Jefferson, 3:30 p.m. Saturday

Late Tuesday: Shavon Coleman's 40 points leads Thibodaux past Patterson

Matt LeBlanc
Staff Writer

THIBODAUX — Shavon Coleman scored 28 of Thibodaux’s 31 first-half points, and Patterson still trailed by eight at halftime.

So when three different Thibodaux players hit 3-pointers to start the second half, the Lumberjacks knew they were in trouble.

Coleman was the only Tiger in double figures, finishing with a game-high 40 points, and Thibodaux beat Patterson, 59-45, to improve to 6-2 on the season.

“We really didn’t change what we did,” Patterson coach Ryan Taylor said of defending Coleman in the second half. “We wanted to know where he was at all times, and keep a body on him. They had some other guys step up and hit some big shots. I looked at one of our assistants, and I said, ‘The rest of them are about to start hitting.’ I knew we were going to be in trouble, then.”

In the first half, though, it was all Coleman for Thibodaux.

Coleman, who signed a letter of intent to play at Lousiana-Monroe last week, was the only Thibodaux player to score until 2:19 remained in the second quarter, when Trevor Duncan made a 3-pointer to put Thibodaux in front 27-21.

“It just kind of went that way,” Thibodaux coach Tony Clark said of Coleman’s performance. “It’s nothing that was planned. He can score, and he had a lot of opportunities. We missed some other shots that we should have made, but he had a lot of easy baskets near the goal.”

As a result, Thibodaux led 31-23 at the break, and then extended its lead when other players chipped in early in the third quarter.

Jestin Major, Alvin George and Ross McMillan hit three-straight 3-pointers to increase Thibodaux’s lead to 40-23 with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter.

“We talked about (getting others involved),” Clark said of halftime. “Just get a little confidence. It didn’t look like we were shooting confidently enough in the first half. In the second half, they came out and they made some shots. That opened up a little bit for us.”

From there, Coleman scored Thibodaux’s next six points before McMillan (eight points) hit another 3 to make it 49-35 with 48 seconds left in the quarter.

Coleman’s lay up at the end of the quarter gave Thibodaux a 51-37 lead to start the fourth.

Patterson (2-2) tried to rally in the fourth, holding Thibodaux scoreless for the first 5:08 of the quarter, but the Lumberjacks never got closer than 51-43.

Taylor said Coleman’s dominating performance wasn’t a surprise.

“He did the same thing to us last year,” Taylor said “He’s a great player. If you let him get into the paint, he’s going to score. If he doesn’t score, you foul him, and he does a great job at the free-throw line.”

Dante Harris led Patterson with 13 points, while Dylan Sanders and Ricky Williams added 10 each.

Courtesy of the Daily Comet

Derenbecker Shines As Country Day Beats Newman 52-33

Nick Krueger
December 10, 2009



Country Day got out of the gate quickly and controlled most of the game as the cajuns knocked off Newman 52-33 in the second round of The Newman Invitational Tournament.

Country Day went on an 8-0 run to start the game. Although LSU signee Matt Derenbecker struggled to find a rhythm early, he made a strong showing in the second half and finished with 23 points to lead the team in scoring.

The matchup of the night was between the senior stars of both teams. Newman in Havens Cary, and Country Day in Derenbecker. A little pushing and shoving between the two early showed they both meant business. It was a hard fought game by both with Derenbecker taking the edge.

Newman's inability to find someone in the paint and a nearly 3 minute scoreless streak in the second quarter led to a 23-11 Country Day lead at halftime.

Newman spread the wealth around as their leading scorer, sophomore Sam Kohnke, had only 8 points followed by Havens Cary with 7. A glimmer of hope shined for the greenies in the 3rd quarter, as they started the second half on a 5-1 run and three pointers by juniors Odell Beckham and Will Bryan helped Newman get back within 10 points of the lead. The 3rd quarter ended with a 35-25 score in favor of Country Day, Newman took a bit of momentum going into the forth quarter.

However, Matt Derenbecker showed his prowess, stepped up, and shut down whatever hopes Newman had in the fourth quarter to lead Country Day to the 52-33 win. Country Day awaits the winner of the McDonogh 35 and Jesuit game in the NIT.

Courtesy of the Times Picayune

West Jefferson wins 51-33 at tourney

By Roger Glynn
Contributing writer


Kadeem Allen scored 15 points to lead West Jefferson to a 51-33 victory over Northshore in the Fontainebleau Tournament on Thursday.

Allen had 12 points as the Buccaneers raced to a 24-14 halftime lead.

Northshore (3-6) was held to 11-of-51 shooting, 20 percent.

"We just couldn't make the open shots," Northshore Coach Joe Tollis said. "We have got to make those shots. They had too many athletes, and we just couldn't match up against them."

West Jefferson (5-5) trailed 3-0 before scoring 10 consecutive points by the 4:22 mark of the first quarter.

"We're getting better," West Jefferson Coach Rusty Jones said. "We missed some shots, but we are getting our football players back into the mix. I hope by district we will be playing better."

The Panthers closed to 40-32 on a three-point play by Jared Thompson with 2:48 remaining.

West Jefferson finished e on an 11-1 run for the final margin.

FONTAINEBLEAU 49, ST. PAUL'S 43:

Quin Cooper scored 32 points to lead the Bulldogs over the Wolves at the tournament.

Cooper made 19 of 21 free-throw attempts, including 15 of 16 in the fourth quarter.

Fontainebleau (8-3) made 22 of 28 free-throw attempts, including 18 of 22 in the fourth quarter.

St. Paul's (2-7) never led. Jonathan Schoen's three-pointer cut the Bulldogs' lead to 29-25 with 7:07 remaining. Schoen led the Wolves with 13 points, and Will Gensler added 12.

Derek Arnold made a three- pointer to cut the deficit to 46-43 with 13.7 seconds remaining.

Richard Bienvenu scored 10 points for the Bulldogs.
MANDEVILLE 65, PEARL RIVER 38:

Zach Adema scored 26 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead the Skippers over the Rebels at the tournament.
HOSPITAL RELEASES DOTSON : Fontainebleau Junior point guard Quinn Dotson was released from the hospital Thursday.  "He's going to be OK," said Bulldogs Coach Barry Dotson, Quinn's father. "He suffered a concussion but has memory up until the fall and three to five minutes after the fall. I really want to thank Pearl River's (Cody Hall) for coming by the hospital."

Courtesy of the Times Picayune

St. Aug tops East Jeff in Newman quarters

By Peter Steinbauer
Contributing writer


St. Augustine held firm despite a second-half surge from East Jefferson and won 59-49 on Thursday night in a Newman Invitational Tournament quarterfinals game.

The Warriors entered the fourth quarter trailing by 11 but chipped away at the Purple Knights' lead. East Jefferson cut the deficit to two with 3:41 remaining on a three-point play by Raymond Bell.

East Jefferson (8-2) had an opportunity to tie on its next possession, but the Warriors turned the ball over while trying to inbound against St. Augustine's pressure.

Eldridge Moore sank two free throws on the ensuing possession, and the Purple Knights went on to outscore East Jefferson 10-2 in the final three minutes. St. Augustine made eight of eight free throws during that quarter.

"We talked about it at halftime how we played intimidated and afraid," East Jefferson Coach Ryan Dicharry said. "I said, 'If there's one thing we have to do, it is go out there and show we're not afraid to play this team. Let's go out there and don't be afraid to make plays.' "

The Warriors, down 31-17 at the half, started the third quarter on an 8-2 run. St. Augustine regained control at the end of the third with seven points by Sydie London, who had 13 points.

Javan Felix scored 15 for St. Augustine (11-1) and Moore 14.

East Jefferson's Antoine Tobias led all scorers with 18 points. d Dominique Suggs scored 14 and Jeremy Clark 13.

BROTHER MARTIN 56, CATHOLIC-BATON ROUGE 47: The Crusaders held the Bears to one point in the final 3:40 in their quarterfinals victory.

The Bears (6-3) trailed by seven at the start of the fourth before cutting the deficit to three on a 3-pointer by Tanner Breaux with 3:41 remaining.

Catholic came no closer, as Brother Martin (9-3) quickly regained control. Senior Patrick Swilling made a 3-pointer and sank two free throws on consecutive possessions, giving the Crusaders a 54-46 lead with 2:40 remaining.

"(Catholic) is a tough, well-coached team," Brother Martin Coach Scott Thompson said. "They were going to keep battling."

Swilling finished with 21 points. Ryan Berger scored 11.

Cory Ferrara scored 11 for Catholic, and Breaux finished with 10 points.

Courtesy of the Times Picayune

Here are the latest scores from the area prep boys basketball schedule in Monroe

Here are the latest scores from the area prep boys basketball schedule in Monroe

Monday's editions

BOYS BASKETBALL
Homer Tournament

Wossman 60, Minden 49
(Championship game)
Leading scorers: Wossman — J. Ross 30, J. Goodin 13, M. Gipson 10. Minden — T. Stonley 16, A. Shine 12.

EL DORADO TOURNAMENT

Neville 46, Bastrop 29
Leading scorers: Bastrop — A. Witherspoon 6. Neville — B. Garrison 13, T. Austin 10

Watson Chapel 60, Neville 51
(Championship game)

Leading scorers: WC (11-1) — Farell 13. Neville (6-2) — Henderson 22 (14 reb), Williams 11, Garrison 11

Wednesday's editions
PREPS
BOYS BASKETBALL

Sterlington 60, Delhi Charter 33
Monday

Leading scorers: STL — Kalen Goldsby 21, Derek Price 13, Brandon Douglas 11; DCH — Kent Speights 11.

LaSalle 37, OCS 33

Tuesday

LaSalle is 3-5; OCS is 2-5.

Tuesday’s state boys scores

Assembly Christian 61, Loreauville 43
Centerville 75, Midland 60
East Jefferson 38, Archbishop Rummel 37
Easton 57, Brother Martin 47
Hamilton Christian Academy 65, Vinton 50
Holden 61, Houma Christian 51
Lusher 61, Ben Franklin 33

Postponements/cancellations
Northwest vs. Abbeville, ccd.
Belle Chasse vs. Pearl River, ccd.

Thursday's editions

BOYS BASKETBALL

Neville 83, Spearsville 53
Tuesday
Leading socrers: NEV (8-2) — Denzel Lewis 12 (11 rebounds), Ronnie Moran 12, Thomas Austin 10, Xavious Henderson 10, Dee Garrison 10. Kendall Mane 10. SPR (13-7) — Tom Jones 15, Robert Clark Jr. 13, Felton Mims 13

West Ouachita 63, St. Mary’s 60
Tuesday
Leading scorers: WO (5-3) — Tevin Grant 15, Andrew Harris 15, Antoine Ford 15

Carroll 79, Grambling Lab 51
Tuesday
Leading scorers: CAR — Xavier Lee 13, Dee Franklin 14, Perry Horne 11, Melvin Tatum 10, Mike Davis 10, Sammy Ceaser 8 (11 assists). GRM -- C Wiley 14, Health Mork 10.

Other Tuesday boys sores
Arcadia 65, Logansport 30
Other Wednesday boys scores
Arcadia 75, Homer 55
Fair Park 67, Mansfield 44
John Ehret 82, Northshore 55