MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / March 1, 2000

EDGARD – West St. John hit the boards in the first half of its bi-districtplayoff game against Northeast Friday night.

In the second half, the Rams hit the ground running, pulling away to a 89-52 victory over the Vikings.

West St. John (21-6) advances to play at Ville Platte in the regional playoffsFriday at 7 p.m. Ville Platte, the District 6-2A runner-up, defeated Rosepine,67-29, Friday.

West St. John out-rebounded Northeast to take an 11-8 lead with 3:48 left inthe first quarter. A three-point play by Dwayne Bastain off a put back and adrive by Jeremy Lumar made it a 9-2 game. Northeast came back to make it11-8 on a jumper by Jarvis Smith from the left corner.

After a timeout by the Rams, Brian Lumar nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing and Jeremy Lumar converted a three-point play to build the lead back to 17-8. In the final minute of the quarter, Donriel Louis hit a jumper, then tooka pass from Carl Gauthier off a rebound in for a dunk to make it 23-13 heading into the second quarter.

The teams traded baskets until midway through the quarter when West St.

John went on an 8-0 run. Jeremy Lumar opened the run with a jumper. Aftera drive by Louis, Lumar buried a 3-pointer from the left corner, making giving the Rams a 36-18 lead with 2:17 left in the half. Northeast pulled to within14 on a 3-pointer by Anthony Hogan and free throws by Vincent Perry and Smith but Jeremy Lumar answered by finding Kermit Bethancourt underneath for a 41-25 halftime lead.

West St. John got its transition game going at the start of the third quarter,opening the half with a 17-6 run. Drives by Marlon Jackson and Jeremy Lumarmade it 46-25 with 5:15 left in the quarter.

After a Northeast timeout, Louis and Lumar scored inside. Northeast brokethe run temporary with a put back by Carl Kelly but the Rams answered as Bastain dunked an alley-oop from Brian Lumar. West St. John then went toits outside game as Jeremy Lumar and Brian Lumar knocked down 3-pointers to make it 58-31.

With six seconds left in the quarter, Jeremy Lumar stole a pass along the right sideline at midcourt and fired up a shot that hit the rim. Brian Lumargrabbed the rebound in the lane and put back a jumper at the buzzer, giving the Rams a 66-35 lead.

West St. John grabbed a 37-point lead early in the fourth quarter on a driveby Jackson. A put back by Devin Herbert and a drive by Coy Miller gave theRams a 40-point lead, their biggest, in the final minute.

“No doubt, rebounding was the key,” West St. John coach Antoine Edwardssaid. “We were able to jump on them with put backs. We had a 16-point leadat halftime but I knew we had to step it up. I didn’t want to come out and playsloppy. This is the playoffs and you can’t take anyone for granted.”Jeremy Lumar led the Rams with 26 points. Louis contributed 14 points whileBrian Lumar added 12. Bastain and Jackson chipped in with 10 points apiece.Northeast was led by Smith with 15 points. Hogan added 11 and Kelly six.

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