Demond Carter breaks single season high school 3-point record

By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

RESERVE– It’s only fitting that a national record should fall in a Hall of Fame game.

Coming into the game, the national single season three-point record stood at 215. But that record now stands at 219 and belongs to Reserve Christian’s Demond &#8220Tweety” Carter after a 37 point performance against 26-3 Ellender, the top ranked Class 5A team in the state. Carter, who also recorded the national high school career scoring record this season, went 7 of 12 from beyond the arc Saturday night in a 83-76 win during the Louisiana High School Athletic Association/ La. High School Coaches Hall of Fame Classic Hall of Fame tournament at Reserve Christian. And the match-up was fitting of the occasion.

Ellender, who came into the game with a 26-3 record and the top ranking in Class 5A, went blow for blow with the Class C defending champion Eagles from the start.

Carter opened scoring in the game with a bucket off of an assist from sophomore Eddren McCain. Needing 3 three-pointers to tie the record coming into the game, he tried to get started on it early in the quarter, but he launched an airball that was gathered by Kevin &#8220Beau” Branch for the putback and a 4-0 lead. Carter came out of the game to tape up his ankle after twisting it going strong to the basket, and McCain and Daniel Johnson kept up the momentum with a basket and a three-pointer respectively.

Ellender finally got on the board on a lay-up and a jumper by 6’4” senior Lionel Robinson and Walter Jones to make it 9-4. The Patriots made a run at it, pulling to within one before Tino Brozos found Carter streaking to the basket for two more Eagle points. The game got all tied up on Ellender’s next possession as Robinson got the first dunk of the game on a putback and sank a free throw.

McCain put the Eagles back on top with a basket just before Carter got his first three-pointer of the night with 1:54 left in the first quarter. Another three-pointer found the bottom of the net before the quarter ended, but that was delivered by Branch to end the period with a 21-17 lead.

But in the opening of the second quarter, Carter popped another three at the 6:53 mark that ignited the entire gym. Ellender’s Sterling and Walter Jones, tried to stifle the Eagle offense with a three and a jumper to make it a two point game, but Branch banked in a three from the top of the key. Turning up the defensive pressure, senior Justin Porter got a clean block to set up a basket for himself on the other side.

Also showing his defensive skills, Carter found himself in a 3-on-1 match-up underneath his own basket and seemed one step ahead of the three offensive players, lining right up in the paint for a charge and stepping right in front of the outlet pass to take a steal. With that, he hustled the ball upcourt and made an assist to Branch for a dunk.

Highlights of the remaining minute and a half of the second period include a three- pointer from 8th grader Brandon Francois and a banked three-point buzzerbeater by Branch to go into halftime with a 45-32 lead. Francois had eight points and showed promise with his hustle and effort.

&#8220That’s our next one,” Byrd said of Francois. &#8220He’s quick, he’s strong, he can shoot. He’s like our very own Allen Iverson.

After that, the national single season three-point record never stood a chance.

Carter came out shooting in the third, scoring the first six points of the half on a three-pointer :26 into the period to tie the record, and another to break the record less than one minute later at the 6:37 mark. The game was delayed only for about :20 as the crowd acknowledged Carter’s latest achievement and Byrd retrieved the game ball for safekeeping. The back-to-back threes made it 52-36.

Ellender was undoubtedly impressed by Carter’s achievement as well, but made a true game out of it thanks in large part to Walter Jones, who scored 27, and Jamal Nixon, who posted 17. The game was slightly in Reserve Christian’s favor all the way to the final minute of play, though a Patriot comeback seemed to loom nearby. But Ellender trailed 78-73 with less than one minute to play and began fouling to stop the clock. They put Carter at the line and he went 5-of-6 in the waning seconds to secure an 83-76 victory.

&#8220We could have put them away earlier in the game when we were ahead by 16,” Byrd said. &#8220Our guys just are a little worn out a little bit from the season. But we’re heading up to West Virginia right now. Oak Hill will be in that tournament. They’re recognized nationally. Ranked ninth in the country. Our guys rise to that opportunity.”