Boys fourth quarter surge ends in 60-47 win, girls top Lady Rams 55-8

By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

RESERVE– East St. John got the best of their West Bank counterpart East St. John this week when the boys squad pulled ahead in the fourth quarter for a 60-48 win in a home game on Tuesday and again on Wednesday when the Lady Wildcats smothered the Rams 55-8 in Edgard.

For the boys game, WSJ led early, going into halftime with a 23-28 lead. ESJ came out to pull within two on a three-pointer by Willie Lago, but the Rams offense tightened up and went into the final period ahead 36-39.

To open the fourth, the Wildcats’ Jamond Kenner hustled up two consecutive baskets to take the lead from WSJ that ESJ would never give up.

Tyron Butler helped to keep the Rams in it with a team-high 16 points, along with Dehaven Butler’s 15, but a surge, provided largely from Lago and Kenner, stirred up some competitive spirit as the teams traded fast breaks and gave the packed Wildcat gym a string of soaring dunks and alley-oops in the final minute of play. By the time the clock expired and the offensive fireworks had ended, East St. John left with a 60-48 final score in their favor. But West St. John has the chance to avenge the loss when the teams meet again this week in a Rams home game on Wednesday.

The Lady Cats (19-5) also picked up a win over WSJ (2-10) this week with a heavy dose of defense, when they sped by the Lady Rams, holding the home team to a total of eight points in the entire game. ESJ came out explosive with a 23-2 first quarter. By halftime, the Lady Wildcats extended it slightly to bring it to 29-5.

After the break, East St. John slowed it down to help keep the clock running and coasted to a 55-8 final. Freshman Clemetrise Bell scored a game high 18 points while junior Krystal Fleming added 10.

The Lady Wildcats return to action on Tuesday when they open a string of district games starting with West Jefferson in an away game. On Friday, they return home to face Destrehan.

The Lady Rams are next scheduled to face Belle Chase this weekend.