By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Kaylon Placide’s 27 points weren’t enough to lead East St. John past McDonogh #35 on Monday night, as the Roneagles bested the Wildcats 65-63.

It is the third game this season that East St. John (5-4) has lost by two points.

“That comes down to turnovers and execution,” said ESJ assistant coach Ronnie Smith. “When you are losing close games, it’s almost always going to come back to those two things. It did tonight.”

The Wildcats trailed by three at halftime, but appeared to seize the advantage in the third quarter, leading by as many as seven.

But the Roneagles (4-2) closed the gap to one entering the fourth quarter, setting up a scramble in the final period.

East St. John trailed by one early in the fourth when Placide scored on a put back and was fouled. He converted the three-point play to give his team a 54-52 lead.

Jerome Keifier fired back for McDonogh #35, drilling a 3-pointer from the wing to make it 55-54.

“He came off the bench and took advantage of his opportunity tonight,” said Roneagles coach Kevin Sanders.

ESJ went back ahead on LeBaron Sylvester’s steal and layup. But back to back buckets by Deltoine Scott and Roland Celestine gave the Roneagles a three-point lead.

The Wildcats weren’t through. Jalen Kenner’s putback of a Placide miss drew ESJ within one with 3:07 left, and with 2:45 remaining McDonogh #35 was whistled for intentionally fouling Placide. He made one of two free throws and Sylvester nailed a jumper to put ESJ ahead by two, 61-59, with 2:27 left.

But the Roneagles took the lead for good when Jeremy Pierre drew a foul and made the first two foul shots before Celestine put back Pierre’s miss for a score, putting McDonogh #35 ahead 62-61.

At the other end, Laurence Cayou blocked a Patrick Gales offering with 1:43 left, and McDonogh controlled the ball to run some clock. With just over a minute left, Placide fouled out. With 50 seconds left, Cayou converted from down low to make it 64-61.

Cayou came through one more time defensively. With ESJ looking to tie the game or draw within one, he came up with a deflection from Pierre for a steal.

“We have to take care of the ball more,” said Placide. “We just have to stay focused.”

Pierre would get the ball back and hit one-of-two from the line with seven seconds left, effectively putting the game out of reach. Sylvester made a layup back at the other end to cut ESJ’s deficit to two, but it came as time expired.

“You want to go on the road and play in an environment like this as much as you can,” said Sanders. “Coach Jasmine does a real good job with his guys. They play a similar style to us, so it’s a good measuring stick.”

Celestine led McDonogh #35 with 18 points. Stanley Melancon added 12.

Gales scored 15 for ESJ, while Sylvester chipped in eight.

ESJ trailed 37-32 in the third quarter before Placide headed a 13-0 run – he’d score 10 of the 14 points and assist on another bucket in the run.

“He’s been an excellent shooter since I’ve been here,” said Smith. “He’s in the gym every day working hard. Early in the season he couldn’t hit anything. Now, he kept on shooting, kept working, and it’s falling for him.”

McDonogh trailed 50-43 late in the period, but finished on a 7-1 run, capped by a Keifier 3-pointrer as time expired in the quarter.

GLEN OAKS 69, ESJ 67 – Glen Oaks edged the Wildcats in the finals of the Glen Oaks tournament on Friday night, hitting a put back as time expired to take the win.

Gales scored 20 to lead ESJ. Placide scored 17.