Basketball: Brother Martin rallies to beat Phoenix, Riverside and Ponchatoula reach tourney semifinals

Area Prep Basketball Report for Friday, Jan. 8

For three quarters, it appeared that Phoenix might pull off a huge upset as a lower classification program against the highest level program at Brother Martin Thursday night.

Then came the fourth quarter.

The Crusaders rallied in the final stanza to down the Spartans 60-49 at Bob Conlin Gymnasium.

Phoenix took the early lead and carried a 16-13 edge into the second quarter. The Spartans maintained a 30-28 edge at halftime.

Phoenix led 40-37 going to the final quarter. That is when the Crusaders turned it on and outscored the Spartans 23-9 for the victory.

Senior Grant DeLord carried the Crusaders, pumping in 29 points while senior Brock Ranlett finished with 14 points. Sophomore Corey Skillman had nine points.

Brother Martin (12-5) will open District 9-5A play Tuesday at John Curtis Christian at 7 p.m. while Phoenix (7-3) returns to action tonight, hosting E.D. White Catholic at 6 p.m.

In the Riverside Invitational, host Riverside edged Northshore 79-76 in an outstanding game.

It was close throughout with Riverside leading 31-28 at the half.

Once again, it was the Gage Larvadain show.

The brilliant 2-sport star pumped in 34 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out nine assists. Samajia McClendon added 18 points for the Rebels (7-2).

Simon Franke topped the Panthers (13-4) with 24 points while Kowan Rowbatham finished with 23 points.

The loss snapped an 8-game win streak for Northshore.

In another close game at the Riverside Tournament, Ponchatoula edged Archbishop Hannan 53-50.

The Green Wave led 23-22 at the half and it was tied 32-32 going to the fourth quarter.

Ryan Elzy led the way for Ponchatoula with 21 points, Uland Thorn had 17 points.

Drew Timmons led the Hawks (12-6) with 17 points while Canyon Celestin finished with 14 points.

Ponchatoula (9-7) will face Riverside tonight at 7 p.m. in the semifinals while in the other semifinal, St. Thomas More takes on Dunham at 6 p.m.

The Cougars edged Country Day 63-60 while the Tigers took down Karr 48-37.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Thursday, Jan. 7

Boys

Abramson Sci Academy 58, John F. Kennedy 52

Brother Martin 60, Phoenix 49

Carver 63, Slidell 58

Central 76, Helen Cox 66

Covington 87, Amite 59

Dunham 48, Karr 37

East Iberville 56, M.L. King Charter 47

French Settlement 68, Central Private 57

Ponchatoula 53, Archbishop Hannan 50

Riverside Academy 79, Northshore 76

St. Charles Catholic 64, Pope John Paul II 41

St. Thomas More 63, Country Day 60

West Jefferson 72, New Orleans Science & Math 29

White Castle 66, Morris Jeff Community 42

Girls

Carver 61, Crescent City Christian 50

Karr 62, Cabrini 25

Mandeville 64, St. Amant 41

Zachary 50, St. Thomas Aquinas 40