East Ascension finishes undefeated in 5-5A play

The East Ascension Spartans used a 28-point first quarter to amass a 46-28 halftime lead, coasting to an 82-63 win over the Broadmoor Buccaneers and finishing the season undefeated (10-0) in 5-5A boys basketball.

Finishing 10-0 in district playing against the teams in our district certainly means you are doing something right, which is very satisfying. It also helps by keeping our team at the top of the power rankings, head coach Barry Whittington said.

The Spartans leading scorer in the game was senior LeAaron Cain with 18 points. Senior guard Cole Hatcher and junior point guard Jimel London each added 13, while Cameron Wire and Shedrick Smith scored 12 points each. T. Joseph and Marques Anderson each had 4, while J. Horns, S. Robinson and J. Carter each scored 2 points. The Spartans won the junior varsity game as well by the score of 53-45.

The Spartans have been consistent on defense this season, and the offense has a handful of players that can score in double digits when needed.

This time of year, its all about defense and offensive execution, which we focused on all year. The stakes are much higher in the playoffs, and we need to be ready to do whats necessary to win, Whittington said about the team's playoff hopes.

The Spartans ended the regular season with a 26-6 season record and are heading to the state playoffs hoping for a top-four seed.

In the Class 5A nonselect bidistrict round of the state playoffs, the No. 13-seeded Dutchtown Griffins expanded a 34-24 halftime lead to defeat the No. 20-seeded Fontainebleau Bulldogs 62-43.

Kyra Harleaux led the Griffins with 17 points, and Reagan Crawford added 13. Close behind was Chelsea Cain with 12, and Tyler Smith and Brittney Lewis each added 6 points. Zaria Harleaux scored 4, while Mae Babin and Alyah Scott each added 2.

At press time, Dutchtown will have played at No. 4-seeded Denham Springs.

The East Ascension Lady Spartans, seeded at the No. 2 spot in 5-5A state playoffs, handed the Mandeville Skippers a 51-32 loss at home. At press time, the Lady Spartans will have traveled to Pineville for a round two contest against the Rebels, seeded No. 18.

In the Class 3A bidistrict round, the Lady Tigers of Donaldsonville handed the Port Allen Pelicans a 65-29 spanking at home Thursday night. The hot shooting and tough defense gave the Lady Tigers their opening victory in the state playoffs.

High scorer for the Lady Tigers and the game was Daija Harvey, who hit for 17 points. Mya Chapman added 13, Janira Collier hit for 11 and Jaliar Johnson and Jalenca Ben each scored 8. Quinntrice Bell contributed with 4, Rodenka Williams scored 3 and Joy Sullivan scored 1. Eleventh-seeded Donaldsonville will have faced No. 6-seeded Albany by press time in the second round.

By press time in the Division IV select bidistrict round, eighth-seeded Ascension Christian will have faced No. 9 seed St. Edmund at home.

Parish teams compete in the LHSAA Indoor Championships at LSU's Carl Maddox Field House. Here are the results.

In Division I boys, the Dutchtown Griffins finished 20th place with 7 points. The Griffin girls finished in seventh place with 28 points. In the field events, Leah Scott took first-place honors with a 17-foot, 11-inch leap in the long jump. Scott also earned second place in the triple jump with a 36-6 jump.

In the Division II boys team scores, the Donaldsonville Tigers took 11th place with 10 points. In the field events, Davon Wright heaved the shot put for 55 feet, 3 inches to take first-place honors.

The Ascension Catholic Bulldogs Girls Team finished in 11th place with 14 points. In the track events, Sophie Daigle took second-place honors in the 1,600-meter run with the time of 5:31.29.

In boys tennis, the St. Amant Gators swept the Zachary Broncos 5-0. In singles matches, Jose Vargas defeated John Goss, of Zachary, 6-0, 6-2, and McCall Braud defeated Rami Abdalla, 6-0 6-2. In doubles action, Trace Sheets and Logan Langlois defeated Jake Robinson and Landon Schwab, 6-4, 7-5, and Luke Mayon and Braden Bourgeois won by forfeit, as well as Hunter Collins and Christian Neilson.

The Dutchtown Griffins handed Dunham a 4-1 loss. In singles, Hunter Hall lost to David Crumpler, of Dunham, 7-6, 6-2. Ben Nguyen, of Dutchtown, defeated Walter Rodriguez 6-0, 6-1. In doubles action, Tanner Hillman and Carson Hillman, of Dutchtown, defeated Michael Dudley and Tyler Martin 7-6, 6-1. Stephen LeBlanc and Jacob Gautreau, of Dutchtown, defeated Matt Jerry and Joey Barnes 6-1, 6-4, and Dutchtown's Connor Hudson and Deandre Smith defeated Matt Long and Bennie Blake 6-0, 6-1.

In girls tennis, the Lady Griffins took their match against Dunham by the score of 3-2. In singles action, Eleanor McFeaters, of Dunham, defeated Grace Overstreet of Dutchtown 6-2, 4-6, 10-6, and Jacqueline Legrange, of Dutchtown, defeated Julia Summers 6-1, 6-0.

In doubles action, Jessica Pastor and Alex Martin, of Dunham, defeated Nicole Redmond and Bailey Weidenbacher, of Dutchtown, 5-7, 6-3, 10-4. Dutchtown's Maddie Boudreaux and Mackenzie Toussel defeated Lillian Nguyen and Lauren Weeks 6-1, 6-1, and Rebecca Lilly and Courtney Connelly, of Dutchtown, defeated Georgianna Willingham and Alyx Breaux 6-4, 6-1.

The girls team of St. Amant took their match against the Zachary Broncos girls team 4-1. In singles action, Angelle Naquin, of St. Amant, defeated Emma Chaney, 6-4, 6-4, and St. Amant's Caitlin Denton defeated Mallory Charlet, 6-2, 6-2.

In doubles action, Kentee McHugh and Mary Grace Hardin, of Zachary, defeated Jordan Allred and Cassie Melancon, 6-1, 6-4. In a hard-fought match, St. Amant's Madison Morin and Carsyn Guitrau defeated Julia Kinchen and Jamie Stagg 3-6, 6-4 and 7-6. Victoria Boone and Arliss Angel, of St. Amant, defeated Grace Day and Michaela Neal 6-4, 6-2.

Lyle Johnson covers sports for The Ascension Advocate. He can be contacted at reelman@eatel.net or ascension@theadvocate.com.

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Ascension Athletics for Feb. 23, 2017 - The Advocate