Tarpons win Ellender Tournament, stay unbeaten

The sixth annual MidSouth Bank Classic tournament had everything prep basketball coaches and fans could want: tough competition, two teams playing in an overtime championship game and a controversial call that may have decided that game.

After winning three close contests on consecutives days, two of which went into overtime, the South Lafourche Tarpons (15-0) prevailed as tournament champions over the host Ellender Patriots, 57-55 on Saturday.

“This is what we needed,” said Tarpons head coach Brian Callais. “Playing some close games will hopefully help us out in district play because district is going to be a battle every night.”

Besides Ellender, a class 4A power, and traditional 1A power the White Castle Bulldogs, the MidSouth Bank Classic resembled a preview of the upcoming District 8-5A season.

H.L. Bourgeois won the third place game, going 2-1 in the tournament. South Terrebonne went 1-2 and lost the consolation game to district rival Assumption, and Terrebonne finished 0-2 in tight games.

Despite the unbeaten start, Callais said there are some areas he still wants to see his squad improve on before the district season begins.

“We have to work on our free throw shooting and finishing plays close to the basket,” he noted. “We had some layup opportunities that we missed, and that stings.”

The coach certainly liked the way the Tarpons meticulously moved the ball around the arc until finding open lanes to the basket or open shooters throughout the tournament.

“These kids work together and are very unselfish,” he said. “We patiently looked for high percentage shots inside when teams played us man-to-man. Against the zone, we just took the outside shot. Luckily, they fell tonight.”

The Tarpons paid a price for the victory. Senior Wesley Rhodes suffered an ankle sprain in the second quarter against Ellender. It is unknown when he will be back in action.

Coming in second at their own tournament, the Patriots (9-7) and head coach Scott Gauthreaux could only imagine what would have happened if the call at the end of the third quarter had gone in their favor.

With two seconds left in the third quarter, Tarpon Cameron Esponge deflected the Patriots inbound pass in the hands of Patriot Ivan Thompson. He heaved the ball from beyond half court and it went in before the buzzer sounded. After a brief huddle, the referees decided the scorekeeper started the game clock late and waived off the basket.

“My question is how can you justify the call?” Gauthreaux asked. “There’s no way to tell how much time elapsed.”

Even with the loss, the Patriots have played well going up against mostly 5A teams during their non-district schedule.

This year’s starting Patriots crew is very inexperienced compared to last year’s senior-laden team led by Sterling Jones, Jamal Nixon, Chris Duthu and David Stewart.

“They have definitely been big shoes to fill, but we’re working it slowly.” Gauthreaux said. “We’re trying to have a vision to see the light at the end of the tunnel, which is the district season.”

The coach is still looking for a permanent point guard to run the offense. Right now, he is doing it by committee with several players.

While the coach could not point to the strength of the team this early in the season, he likes their ability to rebound and defend in the halfcourt, especially in the case of junior center Trevon Lewis.

“He works hard for everything he gets on the boards, with put-backs and finishing around the basket, Gauthreaux said. “We definitely have an athletic go-to player.”

For the 5A state runners-up, the Braves athletic, high-flying scorers showed their offensive prowess in comebacks versus the Tarpons (10-point first quarter deficit, before losing by six) and the Bulldogs in the third-place game (13-point halftime deficit before winning by five).

Bourgeois does not run a lot of set plays. They spread opponents out and try to go inside or kick the ball out for the open three-pointer. It is explosive when they make shots and a detriment defensively when they do not.

“A lot of times, we’ll take the three and have one guy going to the board instead of three,” said Braves head coach Andrew Caillouet.

The Braves’ inability to play weak side defense has cost them in tight games. But the tough loses have not shaken their confidence.

“It’s no fun to lose, but they battle the whole way,” Caillouet said. “We have a nucleus that has too much experience to be down. People forget we were 7-9 at one point last season. You’d rather get tested and lose than win games easily and not get any better.”

After winning the Casey Kozminski Tournament at H.L. Bourgeois the previous week, Terrebonne (5-7) lost two competitive games in the MidSouth Bank Classic – a two-point loss in overtime against the Tarpons on Thursday and a three-point loss to Assumption on Friday.

The failure to capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes is the biggest problem the Tigers need to improve on, according to head coach Byron McPherson.

“We should be undefeated. We’re beating ourselves,” he said. “Missed free throws, missed layups. You can’t win games when you’re doing that. We’re defending pretty well, but if we want to go anywhere, we’re going to have to tighten up our offense.”

For South Terrebonne (3-7) head coach David Neal, getting his inexperienced team exposure to tough competition was the goal of the tournament.

He said the Gators have to find a way to overcome its rebounding disadvantage because they lack height on the frontcourt.

“At times, we have good technique and execution, but not consistently for four quarters,” he said. “We’re starting to understand and play within our limitations.”