Earline Hebert Adams
December 4, 2006
Houma woman nabbed with crack cocaine
December 6, 2006
The Ellender Patriots used a big third quarter to separate themselves from Vandebilt Catholic and win 75-62, Friday night at the Terrier Classic in Houma.
Coming out of the locker room, Ellender held a 31-29 lead. By the end of the third quarter the Terriers were comfortably ahead 63-42. “Third quarter’s been our quarter the whole year,” said Ellender coach Scott Gauthreaux. “I think with our pressure defense in the first half, it kind of wears teams down. I guess they come out the locker room still a little tired.”
Whatever factored into the Patriots’ 32-13 third quarter, it was obvious their defense was playing at a high level. Vandebilt had 12 turnovers in the third quarter, compared to Ellender’s two turnvoers. “That’s been the difference,” Gauthreaux stressed. “You saw a difference in the intensity in the third quarter.”
Early in the quarter, Vandebilt matched Ellender’s intensity, making the score 35-34 on an Evan Mistich (23 points) three-pointer at the 6:31 mark.
From there, however, the Patriots took control with a 12-0 run to take a 47-34 lead. Included in that run were back-to-back three’s by Bruce Harding (11 points) and Sterling Jones (22 points).
“Ellender is a streaky team, meaning runs within a game,” said Vandebilt coach Rafe Blades. “I told the guys, at one point, I think we were 2-for-11 shooting free throws. I thought that hurt us during the stretch. We’re going to turn the ball over, we’re going to not box people out, but free throws and making layups and good shots—we need to get a little bit better at.”
Vandebilt mounted a mini-rally, pulling within 48-40 at the 3:11 mark in the third quarter, but that would be as close as they would get the remainder of the game. Ellender closed out the quarter on a 15-2 run.
Vandebilt was playing without standout point guard DeShawn Patterson, who was rushed to the hospital the previous night after he collapsed outside of the school. Patterson was cleared by doctors to play, but Blades said it was his decision to hold Patterson out. “We had him, because DeShawn was on the bench cheering his teammates on,” said Blades. “He was actually cleared to play tonight by the doctors, but I told him before the game, at Vandebilt it’s a little bit more than basketball. I don’t just like those kids—I love them. We’re going to look out for them and make sure that he gets his rest.”
Early in the game, Vandebilt provided a stiff challenge to the Patriots. The Terriers led 15-14 after the first quarter, in large part because of contributions from Mistich and DeQuiante Brown. Brown had six first-quarter points, while Mistich chipped in five.
In the second quarter, Vandebilt extended its lead to 21-18 on a pair of Brown free throws, but Ellender retook the lead 22-21 at the 4:02 mark. They led 27-23 on a Chris Duthu (18 points) three pointer.
Vandebilt never regained the lead.
“I told them before the game I wanted them to play hard,” said Blades, “don’t look at the scoreboard. I think we played hard. Not (just) for the first half, but I thought we played hard for the whole game.”
Other Scores from the Terrier Classic …
Thursday
(Boys) Ellender 79 Destrehan 62
(Boys) Vandebilt 60 Central Lafourche 43
(Girls) Vandebilt 61 Central Lafourche 32
(Girls) St. James 47 South Terrebonne 25
(Girls) St. James 46 Arch. Chappelle 42
Friday
(Boys) Ellender 75 Vandebilt 62
(Boys) Destrehan 58 Central Lafourche 51
(Girls) Hahnville 55 Vandebilt 53
Saturday
(Boys) Ellender 74 Central Lafourche 51
(Girls) Vandebilt 46 Arch. Chappelle 38
(Girls) Hahnville 78 St. James 30
(Girls) Central Lafourche 76 South Terrebonne 51
