Blount leads way as Eagles notch first two victories of year

By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

As Reserve Christian and West St. John matched up on Tuesday, each was a team coming off a decidedly different performance.

Reserve Christian had won its second consecutive game of the season a week prior, a 31-25 comeback win at home over Crescent City. Meanwhile, West St. John entered the game coming off of a 67-30 loss at St. James.

But the Rams shook off the loss as they returned home. West St. John outscored the Eagles 20-1 in the first quarter on its way to a 55-25 win in their gym over RCS.

“We stayed back in our zone on defense, and they missed some shots,” said West St. John Coach Lester Smith. “Fortunately, we were able to make ours and get out to a lead.”

Lakia Brown scored 11 to lead West St. John (7-5). Kayla Morris scored 10.

The Eagles (2-8) struggled offensively for most of the game, not getting into a rhythm until the fourth quarter, when they scored 14 of their 25 points.

“We really slumped in the first quarter,” said Reserve Christian Coach Natalie Simon. “We were able to get some baskets on fast breaks in the third and fourth quarter, but it was too large a lead to overcome.”

Daysha Blount led the Eagles with 15 points.

On Thursday, West St. John hosted St. James for a rematch of the prior week. The Rams shook off a 17-point halftime deficit to cut the Wildcats’ lead to eight in the third quarter. But the Wildcats pulled away down the stretch using its trademark pressure defense, notching a 65-34 win.

The Rams did a better job in this game handling the Wildcat press, but it still proved to be the major difference between the two teams.

“We did a better job, and didn’t turn the ball over as much,” said Smith. “But it was still an issue.”

Morris led the team with 16. Tranell Mitchell added 10.

The Eagles, meanwhile, saved their best performance for the fourth quarter last Tuesday as they hosted Crescent City, but it garnered a much different result. Trailing 19-17 entering the fourth quarter, the Eagles scored 14 of the 20 total points in the quarter to take a 31-25 win.

Blount again led the way with 12 points. Raven Campbell scored six.

The game was the second of a home-and-home series with Crescent City, the first of which the Eagles also won, 32-22.

Blount scored 14 to lead the team. Kelly Crews added eight, and Campbell scored seven.

Simon noted that her team would take time to truly gel after losing three senior starters from a year ago – there are sixth and seventh graders garnering major playing time.

That said, those players are giving Simon reason to look to the future with confidence.

“We have a large amount of young players, but you can see the potential there,” said Simon. “The future is looking bright for when these kids start to mature together.”