By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LUTCHER – St. Charles played the role of spoiler for rival Lutcher on Monday night, denying the Bulldogs a victory in the first game played on their new home floor and coming away with a 63-51 win.

John Williams led St. Charles with 22 points. Mike Green scored 17 and Trent Dunn added eight.

“We played them in my freshman year and it was a big game, so I knew this would be even bigger and that they’d come out and play hard and physical,” said Williams. “But we played manned up, played smart and came out victorious.”

The Comets (4-4) trailed 4-0 early, but once Williams put the Comets ahead 6-4, SCC would never trail again.

“We minimized turnovers and took good shots tonight,” said St. Charles coach Chris Perrone. “That was the key. There were some stretches where we’d get a little out of our game, but when we take our time, make the good pass and work for the good shot, that’s when we have success.”

St. Charles would go on a 16-2 run after allowing the first two baskets of the game, fueled mainly by Green who scored 12 of his 17 in the first quarter. In one stretch, he scored 10 straight Comet points to give SCC an 18-9 lead.

The Comets led by as many as 14 in the second half, but the Bulldogs made a push in the fourth quarter.

Trailing 46-36, Lutcher (1-4) began its surge on a jumper by Daniel Taylor. Jarvis Landry and Tyshon Jackson combined to make 3-of-4 free throws to cut the lead to five with 5:15 left.

“Credit to them, they got a feel for what we were doing and played physical defense,” said Perrone.

The Comets were whistled for a traveling violation, then saw a shot blocked that ignited a LHS fast break. Kenley Allen finished to cut the Comets lead to three, prompting Perrone to call a time out.

“I told them it was time to man up,” said Perrone. “We had to regroup, remember what to do and how to do it.”

Said Williams: “You can’t back down. You just need to keep playing and find good shots.”

St. Charles heeded their coach’s advice. Each team traded three points, but the Comets went up by five on a Williams basket assisted by a slashing Green.

Then Harley Scioneaux came up big. After Green went 1-of-2 at the line, Scioneaux rebounded Green’s miss and put it back with 2:28 remaining to make it 54-46.

Lutcher would get no closer than seven the rest of the way.

Antoine Adams and Taylor each scored 11 to lead Lutcher. Landry scored eight.

NORTHSHORE 78, SCC 71 – John Williams scored 38 points, albeit in a losing effort, as St. Charles fell to Northshore last week.

The Comets trailed by two at halftime and by eight – 51-43 – entering the fourth quarter.

Mike Green scored 14 and Taylor Peytavin added 12.

Perrone said Williams did a good job making his presence known in all areas, particularly in getting to the foul line – Williams shot 25 free throws, making 18.