MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 11, 1999

RESERVE – On the 58th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Reserve Christian went on a bombing run of its own, hitting nine 3-pointers in the first half on its way to a 83-58 victory over West St. John Tuesday night at TheNest.

Reserve Christian (18-3) finished with 11 3-pointers for the game. AaronVogel had six of them, four in the first half, finishing with a team-high 26 points. Matt McGee added 20 points and nine rebounds. Addison Elliscontributed 17 points with Larry Smith tossing in eight points and grabbing nine rebounds.

Dwayne Bastain led West St. John (0-1) with 26 points, 20 in the firsthalf. Amone Lumar scored 14 of his 15 points in the second half. DevinHerbert contributed seven points.

After West St. John scored the first points of the game on a jumper byBastain and a free throw by Davin Farnell, Reserve Christian tied the game on a 3-pointer by Ellis from the left side. A layup by Vogel off a steal byEric McClain on the Eagles’ next possession gave them the lead for good. A3-pointer by Vogel made it 10-4 with five minutes left in the first quarter.

Bastain scored twice for the Rams but Vogel answered each time with a 3-pointer to increase the lead to 16-8. A 3-pointer by Ellis made it 22-10after the first quarter of play.

Bastain grabbed a steal in the backcourt and drove the left baseline for a slam early in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 26-15. ReserveChristian came back as McGee scored off a pass from Edmond Weathersby inside and Vogel hit a 3-pointer from the left side. Bastain again drove thebaseline for a dunk but Ellis answered with a 3-pointer from the left corner.

McGee then took over, knocking down 3-pointers from the left side on successive possessions to build the lead to 20. After a put back by JaredSimoneaux, Bastain slammed a put back, making the score 42-25 at the half.

Reserve Christian built the lead back to 21 in the first minute of the third quarter as McGee scored on a put back and Vogel scored off a steal by Weathersby. A jumper by Smith from the left baseline built the lead to54-27 midway through the quarter.

After Herbert took a steal in, Vogel came back with a 3-pointer from the top of the key, making it 59-33. A put back by Weathersby and a drive byHerbert made it 62-37 after the third quarter.

A 3-pointer and two free throws by Lumar and a jumper by Aaron Sylvain brought the Rams to within 21 early in the fourth quarter. But ChrisMcClain came back with a drive and Vogel hit another 3-pointer from the left side, making it 68-44 with 5:18 left. Lumar’s second 3-pointer of thequarter and a jumper and put back by Bastain again made it a 21-point game.

“I was pleased,” Reserve Christian coach Timmy Byrd said. “I was pleasedwith the effort and the intensity. I think we matched them in the physicalpart of the game. Our intensity and mental toughness showed up and I thinkthat is why our 3-point shooting was effective.”West St. John, coming off the football playoffs last Friday, was playingwithout four starters in its first game of the season.

Coach Antoine Edwards said his team had one practice this week for about 45 minutes but that he was pleased with its effort Tuesday night.

“I thought we played real well,” Edwards said. “I’m really proud of what Isaw tonight. I thought overall we played well tonight.”

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