By GEORGE MAHL

LUTCHER – The Lutcher High School Bulldogs used a strong inside game from Gerard Landry to earn a hard fought 55-46 victory over North Vermillion High School in the first round of the playoffs last Friday night.

With LHS leading 45-42 with 3:05 remaining, the Bulldogs stalled the ball for almost two minutes, thus preventing the Patriots from scoring.

The crucial blow to NVHS came with about one minute to play. North Vermillion guard Joe Allen lost the handle, which lead to Ellis Hughes stealing the ball and getting an easy lay-up. This made the score 47-42 LHS.

“We played a team tonight that is very well coached,” said Lutcher head coach Mike McNamara. “Their two best players (Allen and Will Fusilier) never came out of the game. I think they may have gotten worn down near the end of the game.”

Things were tightly contested throughout the first half of play. With the scored 7-7 near the end of the first period,

Fusilier nailed a 3-pointer giving the visiting team a 10-7 lead. However, Lutcher immediately tied the score at 10 when Gerard Michael sank a jumper.

The second period was more of the same. Each team exchanged baskets back and forth on several occasions. In fact, there were five lead changes in the period. Fusilier’s jumper with about two minutes remaining made the score 20-20 at halftime. Fusilier, who scored eight of his teams 16 points in the third period, hit a turnaround jumpshot to give the Patriots a 28-24 lead with 3:55 left in third quarter.

Six consecutive Fusilier points expanded the lead to 36-26 NVHS with 1:08 remaining in the third period. The crowd at the Lutcher gym began to grow displeased with each missed shot by the Bulldogs.

However, an 8-2 sprint by Lutcher during the early part of the final period began to bring the Bulldog fans to their feet. Landry’s put in tied the score at 38 midway through the final period. A three-point bomb courtesy of Hughes gave Lutcher a 43-38 lead with about 4:30 left to play. The Patriots, however, would not go away easily. Two free throws from Kyle Duhon cut the Lutcher lead to 43-40.Lutcher made 6 of 10 free throws down they stretch when they needed to.

“Dustin (Mitchell) and Gerard (Landry) played like men tonight. When we do what have to do, (Mitchell and Landry) can dominate in the paint,” said McNamara.