Ellender bringing back 32 Minutes of Pain

LSU prepares for Outback Bowl without Mettenberger
December 11, 2013
Guidry picks Northwestern St.
December 11, 2013
LSU prepares for Outback Bowl without Mettenberger
December 11, 2013
Guidry picks Northwestern St.
December 11, 2013

With a young and inexperienced roster, the Ellender Memorial boy’s basketball team had limited success in 2012-13 under first-year coach Cornell Scott.


“We played freshmen and sophomores,” Scott said. “We showed flashes, but it wasn’t always pretty, either.”

But with a slew of returnees back in the lineup this year, the Patriots are ready to soar.

With most of its core back from last year’s team that reached the Class 4A State Playoffs, Ellender’s players said they think a deep playoff run is in the future.


After winning their first five games of the season, the Patriots have proven that there is quite a bit of bite to go along with their bark.

“We got a good point guard. We got shooters. We got bench players. It’s all coming together,” Patriots senior standout Justin Johnson said. “We locked and loaded right now and when we get some of our guys back before district, look out. We’re only going to get better.”

“We think we have a lot of tools in place to make a really nice run,” junior guard Eric Welch agreed. “I think the start to the season that we’ve had shows that we’ve all gotten better in the offseason so that we can go a little farther than we did this past year.”


The Patriots’ depth of talent is likely the first thing that a basketball fan will notice about this year’s Ellender team.

The Patriots have one of the deepest rotations in the Tri-parish area, routinely playing as many as 10 players in a given game.

So far this season, Johnson has arguably been Ellender’s leader.


Possessing an ability to score inside, but also owing 3-poing shooting range, Scott said his senior is a pleasure to coach.

The coach added that Johnson never wants to leave the game and has set a good example for the other players within the program.

In Thursday night’s 65-41 victory against South Lafourche, Johnson piled in 19 points and recorded a handful of steals.


In other games, he may not score, but may be relied upon for rebounding and defense.

“He’s so versatile – you never know what he’s going to bring to you each game,” Scott said following the South Lafourche game. “Tonight he was on – he was making everything he threw up there. But whatever the coach needs from him, that’s what he gives. If we need him to be physical and be inside, he does it. If we need him to make shots from outside, he’s capable as well. He never wants to leave the court. But I like that. I want guys who never want to sit down. That creates an attitude and an edge within the program.”

But in addition to Johnson, the Patriots have other capable weapons.


Welch has been one of the team’s top guards throughout the season. Junior Leland Alexander has also given Ellender valuable minutes in the post.

Scott said role players like junior JaMarcus Jones and sophomores Quentin Scott and Curtis Anderson have all stepped up and elevated their games to give Ellender balance.

“My role players have stepped up,” Scott said. “You go into the year and expect certain guys to do certain things. But I think you turn the page and take that next step when you get players to do a little more. So far, our role players are really doing nice work for us.”


“Top-to-bottom, we have guys on our team who know how to play basketball,” Alexander added. “That’s a blessing. Not too many people have that.”

The truth is that the Patriots think things will only get better here in the future.

Scott said that senior Jarred Turner will be back at some point in the season after suffering a shoulder injury as a wide receiver on Ellender’s football team. The coach also said senior Jasi Barabin is nicked and will be back in the lineup shortly.


But arguably the biggest addition will be transfer guard Justen Harris, who landed with the Patriots after playing the past few seasons at Vandebilt.

Harris was a key member of the Terriers’ 2012-13 squad that reached the Second Round of the Class 4A State Playoffs.

Because he transferred in the middle of the fall semester, Harris was not eligible to play at the beginning of the season. The junior guard will regain his eligibility this week and will be free to play for the remainder of the season.


“We’re very much looking forward to having him back because it adds to the core that we already have in place here,” Scott said. “Eric Welch is such a good ball handler, but when we’re able to add another ball handler to that mix, we’re just so much better.

“It’s been a wait to get Justen back. But we’re counting down the days. We’re going to be a better team when he’s in our lineup.”

But for Ellender, it always comes back to 32 Minutes of Pain.


Scott said in his second season with the Patriots, he has brought back the team’s traditional full-court pressure defense.

Against South Lafourche, the Patriots overwhelmed the Tarpons and forced a number of turnovers, which led to easy buckets.

“That’s what it’s about here – it’s always been 32 Minutes of Pain,” Alexander said. “Since before we’ve been around, that’s how we’ve played.”


Offense, defense, experience and more players coming to fill the cupboard – that’s Ellender’s recipe for success in 2013-14.

It sure looks early-on that it’s a recipe that works.

“That’s our style. That’s the tempo that we like,” Alexander said. “If we keep going like we’re going and we get all our players back, we think we’ll be able to go farther.”


Ellender guard Eric Welch makes a move to the basket over the South Lafourche defense during the Patriots’ 65-41 victory over the Tarpons. With victories over South Lafourche, H.L. Bourgeois and Terrebonne, Ellender is quickly establishing itself as one of the local powerhouses in the Tri-parish area’s 2013-14 basketball scene. 

CASEY GISCLAIR | TRI-PARISH TIMES