MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / January 14, 2000

RESERVE – It was a tale of two halves at the Reserve Christian-Lutcher game Tuesday night at “The Nest.”Lutcher controlled much of the first half but Reserve Christian took the final 16 minutes for a 59-56 non-district victory.

Lutcher took a 31-23 lead into halftime. Aaron Vogel cut the deficit tofive on the Eagles’ opening possession of the second half with a 3-pointer from the left wing.

Both teams then went cold from the field before Eric McClain broke the scoreless spell with a 3-pointer from the top of the key, bringing the Eagles to within two at the 4:38 mark.

After a 20-second time out by Lutcher, Brian Nicholas brought the lead back to five with a 3-pointer from the right corner. A 3-pointer byAddison Ellis from the right corner, a layup by Edmond Weathersby and two free throws by Vogel tied the game at 36 with 1:56 left in the quarter.

Vogel then drained back-to-back 3-pointers from the left side, giving the Eagles a 42-36 lead.

A drive by Ellis gave the Eagles an eight-point advantage but Lutcher came right back with James Williams finding Nicholas driving from the right side to make it 44-38 going into the fourth quarter.

Lutcher pulled to within four early in the fourth quarter on a put back and two free throws by Courtney Long.

Larry Smith answered for Reserve Christian with a jumper in the lane.

Weathersby then grabbed a steal, feeding Vogel downcourt to build the lead back to 53-44.

A 3-pointer from the right wing by Nicholas and two free throws by Williams brought Lutcher to within six with 1:41 left. On the Bulldogs’ensuing possession, Thomas Ricks took a pass from Donnie Francois inside and was fouled, hitting the free throw to make it 55-52 with 1:09 left.

After two free throws by Weathersby, Nicholas drove in from the right side to make it 57-54 with 8.7 seconds left. Following timeouts by bothteams, Vogel was fouled on the inbounds pass from Ellis and hit both free throws with 7.7 seconds remaining. Clarence Weber put back a shot at thebuzzer for the final score.

“Lutcher did a good job,” Reserve Christian coach Timmy Byrd said.

“They’re athletic and they forced some turnovers. But we were also ableto force some turnovers on them.

“I’m proud of the kids. Our kids come to play hard every game and it mighthave been they were trying too hard.”Vogel led Reserve Christian (25-5) with 17 points. Ellis contributed 10points while Weathersby and Smith chipped in with eight points apiece.

McClain, back after suffering a sprained ankle, had seven points.

Nicholas led all scorers with 19 points for the Bulldogs (11-6). Williamstossed in 12 points and Ricks 10.

Nicholas scored twice to give Lutcher a 4-0 lead to open the game. Reserve Christian came back with an 11-0 run, taking a 11-4 leadwith 3:45 left on a 3-pointer from the left wing by Matt McGee and a jumper by McClain.

Ricks sandwiched a put back and a drive inside around a basket by Smith to pull the Bulldogs to within 13-11 at the end of the first quarter.

Williams took a steal in to tie the game at 13 and Reggie Scott followed with a put back to regain the lead for the Bulldogs. A 3-pointer from theright side by Weber brought the lead to 18-13 early in the second quarter.

Nicholas hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 21-15. KayneMatherne followed with a steal, finding Long downcourt to make it an eight-point game.

Ellis drove downcourt and McClain took a steal in to cut the deficit to four but Matherne answered with a pass to Long driving down the lane. Longthen grabbed a steal and passed to Matherne who found Weber driving in to make it 31-23 at the half.

“We played a really good first half,” Lutcher head coach Don Fernandez said. “But I told the kids that Reserve Christian would come out like gangbusters in the second half.

“Their game is the 3-pointer and transition and we took that away from them in the first half. But they came out and did what they do best. “My hats off to them. I don’t think our kids did anything wrong. Weoutplayed them in the first half and they outplayed us in the second half.”

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