By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

RESERVE — In its final regular season game, East St. John had the opportunity to avenge an earlier loss to rival Destrehan Thursday night. It didn’t disappoint.

Seniors Tre’Von Jasmine, Troy Green and Kendell Jackson combined to score 57 points on their senior night to lift ESJ to a 76-50 win over Destrehan in Reserve.

Jasmine scored 24, Green 19 and Jackson 14 points, helping ESJ earn a split in the season series between the teams. DHS won a 60-56 contest at home on Jan. 27.

East St. John coach Yussef Jasmine said this time around, his team was more prepared for the moment.

“I thought we handled the atmosphere better,” he said. “The way we handled (the crowd and rivalry aspect) the first time, it was kind of shocking, because our top guys have played in those kinds of games before. I thought our two leaders, Tre and Troy, set the tone and got us in a groove early.”

ESJ (22-10, 11-3) also avoided major foul trouble: Tre’Von Jasmine sat in major foul trouble for long stretches in the first game and was limited to eight points. Conversely, ESJ held Destrehan’s David Green, who scored 24 points in the first matchup, to 11.

Destrehan fell to 18-12 overall with the loss, and 7-7 in District 7-5A.

Jackson and Anthony Steer, Yussef Jasmine said, each made major impacts when ESJ was taking control of the game.

“I felt our seniors each had that part of the game they stamped as their own,” Yussef Jasmine said. “At one point, Kendell made three 3-pointers in a row. Then there was another stretch we forced three turnovers in a row and Anthony stepped up and scored three (baskets) in a row.”

The win cemented ESJ as runner-up in District 7-5A. Central Lafourche, who ESJ split with this season, won the district with a 12-2 mark, clinching it outright with a 66-58 win over Thibodaux Friday.

Yussef Jasmine said his team entered Thursday’s game looking to achieve a number of smaller goals beyond a victory, and his players largely came through: winning by 20 points or more, committing 10 turnovers or less (ESJ committed 10), shooting a high percentage from the line (86 percent) and lessening the amount of second chance opportunities allowed to the opponent.

The coach believes his team is ready to make a run in the postseason, noting that for his senior players, the hunger for a breakthrough is very real.

“We were out in the second round last year, and the quarterfinals the year before, and I know from talking to Tre, he’s really eager to get beyond that point,” Yussef Jasmine said, adding he believes the team’s guard play this season could be the difference in making a postseason push.

Tre’Von Jasmine is averaging 20 points a game in his first season at the point guard position. Troy Green averages 18 points a game playing shooting guard.

“You look at teams that make a run and so many times, the foundation is strong guard play,” Yussef Jasmine said.

“We’re really solidified there.”