MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 29, 2000

RESERVE – Demond Carter and Demarcus Branch took the long-range route to lead Reserve Christian against St. John of Plaquemine Monday night.Carter and Branch combined for four 3-pointers in the first quarter alone, opening up the middle for the Eagles. Reserve Christian took advantage ofthe opening, driving to a 89-55 victory over St. John in the Eagles Nest.Reserve Christian improved to 13-6 on the season with the win. St. Johndropped to 2-2.

Carter had a game-high 23 points that included four 3-pointers, three in the first quarter. Paul Labiche and Marlon Brumfield chipped in with 17points apiece while Chris McClain added 11. Labiche and McClain also hadeight rebounds apiece. Branch had nine points to go with three assists andfive steals.

St. John was led by Jerome Gales and Marcus Woodham, each of whom had14 points. Chad Wille had 10 points while Chris Comeaux contributedeight.

With the game tied at 5 with 6:28 remaining in the first quarter, Reserve Christian started a 20-4 run over the next 4:13. Carter gave the eagles thelead for good with a 3-pointer from the right side, then added another one from the right corner on the next possession for a 11-7 lead. McClain thendrove under and dropped a pass to Labiche who was fouled while laying the shot up. Labiche converted the free throw, making it 14-7 with 5:17 leftin the quarter.

Carter sailed in another 3-pointer later in the quarter to make it a 14- point game. Branch then intercepted a pass at midcourt and found Carterdriving in, forcing St. John to call a timeout with 2:15 left and ReserveChristian leading, 25-9.

A 3-pointer from the left side by Branch gave the Eagles a 28-11 lead before St. John began a rally. A jumper by Greg Bizette and two freethrows by Woodham cut the margin to 13. After a drive by Gales, Comeauxput back a shot to bring St. John to within 29-20 at the end of the firstquarter.

But Reserve Christian pulled away again as the second quarter opened, outscoring St. John 12-2 over the first five minutes. Labiche and McClaingot the run started with put backs and Branch knocked in a jumper off a steal by McClain to make it 35-20. Labiche scored on another put back andCarter took a steal in, making it 41-22 and forcing St. John to calltimeout with 2:53 remaining in the half.

St. John cut the deficit to 16 on a put back by Wille but Brumfieldanswered with a jumper from the left corner on the next trip down the court. A possession later, Matt Jackson kept it alive with two rebounds,feeding Carter for a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 46-27 going into the half.

“The team came out with a lot of intensity,” Reserve Christian coach Timmy Byrd said. “We wanted to work the ball right at them, Demarcusand Demond did a good job of hitting the open man in transition. The littleguys played with a lot of intensity and took charge.”Gales hit a jumper from the left corner to pull St. John to within 16 earlyin the third quarter. A 3-pointer by Wille from the right side made it 49-37 with 4:37 remaining.

But on Reserve Christian’s next trip down court, Brumfield answered with a 3-pointer from the left side. That started a 15-4 run for the Eagles toend the quarter. A pass from Jackson to Carter underneath made it 56-37with 3:25 left and forced St. John to use a timeout. Labiche scored insideoff a pass from Branch and Carter converted a three-point play with 2.7seconds left, helping the Eagles take a 64-41 lead into the fourth quarter.

The run continued as the final quarter opened as the Eagles went on an 8-2 scoring spree. McClain opened the quarter with a 3-pointer and a jumperand Branch found Labiche cutting underneath for a 71-43 lead.

A drive by Gales made it 73-49 midway through the quarter. MarshallWilliams and Brumfield came back with 3-pointers, helping the Eagles go on another 14-0 run. Jackson would score underneath off a pass fromWilliams and Brumfield added two free throws, making it 87-49 with 1:37 left.

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