Tuesday, Dec. 6
December 6, 2011
Jake P. Lipari
December 8, 2011
The South Lafourche boys’ basketball team hasn’t been one to set offensive records in recent years. That’s putting it lightly.
The Tarpons execute a slower tempo, motion-based offense that sometimes keeps games played in the 30s and 40s.
So far in the 2011-12 season things appear to be changing, a few more light bulbs on the scoreboard are being put to use.
With an array of speed, size and skill, the Tarpons have subtly shifted from their slow tempo and are playing with a slightly higher pace.
The result early in the season has been good, as the team has rolled to a strong start with its new, more potent offense.
“After our first two games, we scored in the 60s and it was like, ‘Wow,’” South Lafourche coach Brian Callais said. “In the past, we haven’t done that. It’d take us two games to get that many points.”
“We’re scoring like double what we did last year,” junior guard Shawn Cheramie said. “We’re doing much better on offense.”
The largest reason for the Tarpons offensive success has been personnel, South Lafourche has a lot of players who can put the ball in the hoop.
South Lafourche junior point guard Treavon Evans leads an experienced starting five that has a combination of quickness, size and strength.
But Evans isn’t asked to run the floor alone and the point guard has actually been able to put scoring a bit on the backburner this season because of the guns he has running with him.
“I haven’t doing much yet,” Evans said. “I’m a little bit of a slow starter. I don’t do much usually until district. But the other guys, they are stepping up a lot. That relieves a lot of pressure off of me as the point guard, knowing anywhere I go, the guy with the ball can score.”
Joining Evans on the attack is arguably the Tri-parish area’s best long distance shooter, Cheramie, who has torched opposing zone defenses this year from behind the arc.
Cheramie was a terror last Tuesday against Grand Isle, scoring 16 points in limited action during the Tarpons’ blowout win, most coming from behind the arc.
“Shawn can light it up,” Callais said.
“I’ve always been a pretty good shooter,” Cheramie said with Evans nodding in approval in the background. “But I’ve been working on it more this year. And it’s getting better.”
Other weapons Evans has at his disposal are senior slasher Bruce Lee, senior Micah Blanchard and also big-man and 6-foot, 7-inch center Justin Ordonne.
Every one of the players can stroke it, according to Evans.
“We’ve got a lot of weapons,” Evans said. “Just about everybody on the team, including Ordonne can shoot the 3-ball. Whenever he wants to, he can shoot it, too. People don’t know it, but he’s a good shooter. … Everybody is.”
“We have a few more people from the outside that I think can surprise people,” Callais added. “They can really shoot it. We just have to get a little more confidence in it. A couple of our guys, their confidence is down right now. I told them at halftime, ‘Keep shooting, keep shooting.’”
Even with the faster pace, no one will mistake the Tarpons for a full-blown offensive machine.
Cheramie and Evans both admit the team is playing quicker than they have in years past.
But against up-tempo opponents, South Lafourche’s strategy will still be the same as it’s been before, to limit possessions and to control fast break opportunities.
They might execute more quickly, but they still aren’t interested in trying to beat schools like H.L. Bourgeois or Terrebonne at their own pace.
“We’re trying to stay in that patient mentality, because we’re not used to playing up tempo yet,” Evans said. “We don’t want to be up and down, fast break all game. We’re not ready for that yet.”
One thing the Tarpons do believe they are getting ready for is the Bayou District, which will be tougher than ever in the new season.
H.L. Bourgeois, Westgate, New Iberia and Terrebonne are all showing signs of being forces to be reckoned with in non-district play.
Also lurking in the district are Thibodaux and Central Lafourche who are never easy outs for anyone.
Every Tuesday and Friday night will be a fight.
“It’s very tough. Just very tough,” Callais said. “They have athletes from top to bottom in this district. Anybody can beat anybody. You just have to work hard and improve and hopefully have a shot at the end.”
Either way, at least the Tarpons know they are bringing more firepower to the fight this year.
“We just have to keep playing our game,” Cheramie said. “All of those teams, they want to run the ball a lot. If we just play our game, play our defense, do all of those things, we’ll be OK.
“We going to have to fight, we know that,” Evans said. “But guess what? They are going to have to come down here and fight with us, too.”
South Lafourche High School junior point guard Treavon Evans soars through the air for two points during last week’s game against Grand Isle. Long known as a slower-paced offensive team, the Tarpons have picked up the tempo in 2011-12. CASEY GISCLAIR
