BY DAVID FOLSE II

Sports Editor

RESERVE-For those who thought that East St. John was going to have a cupcake, an easy one, a no problem game in the first round they better look again.

The Wildcats open up the playoffs on the road against the second toughest team out of the Catholic League, the Jesuit Blue Jays.

East St. John concluded their regular season Monday night with a disappointing loss to Thibodeaux. However, the Wildcats did defeat South Lafourche on Friday night, 67-33.

Ricardo Porter led the Wildcats with 15 points and Ryan Perrilloux added 14 points. Ryan Stipe also had a solid effort with 10 points.

Heading into the playoffs, the Wildcats are 27-10 on the season and finished with a 12-4 record in district 6-5A.

A trip to New Orleans to take on perennial power Jesuit awaits the Wildcats in the first round. ESJ will take on the Blue Jays Friday night at 7 p.m.

“It’s lose and go home time now,” East St. John Head Coach Charles Julian said. “Taking second place in the Catholic League, Jesuit is obviously a very good team.

“Saying that, if we go down there and play hard and play smart I think that we can beat them.”

Julian said his team must redouble their focus and concentration to be successful.

“Playing smart basketball is the biggest key to success in the playoffs for any team,” Julian said. “Our kids have really been working hard. They are going to have to match a good teams intensity as well as the other aspects of the game.

“If we can do those things, I think that we are capable of beating any team that we play. If we play how we can, we can play with anybody in this state.”