Demond Carter, Justin Porter set to take floor for last time in RCS uniform

By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

LAFAYETTE — Reserve Christian has put in quite a workload with 55 games so far this season, winning 47 of them.

And there’s just one left to go.

Today, the Eagles meet Marion for the Class C state title in the CajunDome in Lafayette. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

To qualify for the title game, Reserve Christian had to get through Excelsior Christian on Wednesday night, a game that was not without a few nervous moments for Eagles coach Timmy Byrd.

&#8220We had trouble just getting going early,” he said of his teams start after the game. &#8220They played a heck of a game. It shows just how good they are, but I knew we just had to get on track.”

In opening the game, RCS slipped behind on both sides of the court and entered the second quarer down 18-10. But once the Eagles got warmed up a bit, they made adjustments and went on a 20-6 run through the period, taking the lead after an Eddren McCain jumpshot with just more than two minutes left in the half.

After the break, Excelsior Christian again gave the crowd a show, tying the game up again late in the third quarter, but were unable to keep up the intesity on offense going into the final period of regulation. There, Reserve Christian finally put it away though the outcome was in doubt until the very final minutes of play.

Kevin &#8220Beau” Branch led RCS with 19 points in the victory. Seniors Demond &#8220Tweety” Carter and Justin Porter added 15 and 10 respectively. Excelsior Christian’s, LaceDarius Dunn, a junior and a Baylor commitment as is Carter, scored a game high 26. So though Dunn and Carter should be seeing lots of each other in the years to come, it comes down to just one more game for Carter in his high school career.

As an 8th-grader, Carter impressed quickly with his quickness and knack for the game of basketball and made the varsity team at Reserve Christian. Now, five years later, Carter holds an inumeral number of records including national records for most three-pointers in a season and most points in a career.. For much of his time at RCS, he has averaged more than 30 points a game. He’s helped lead them into the playoffs in each of his five years with the team, and has been part of two championship teams already.

There’s just not much left for him to do at the high school level.

Also taking the floor for the last time in an Eagles uniform, Justin Porter, Tino Brozos, Daniel Johnson, Oscar Joseph and Jared Johnson. The graduation of the six seniors will leave Reserve Christian with Branch supported by Eddren McCain and freshman standout Franklin Francois.

The return of that young core that has been around all of the success that Reserve Christian has had in the last four or five years should help to keep the Eagles in contention for some of the accolades that they have picked up recently. Byrd says that he is also looking to Francois to step up as a presence on the team next season.

But that’s just one more talented athlete coming out of Reserve Christian’s program. And that’s next year.