Basketball: Ehret frontcourt powers win at Bonnabel

KENNER – In the battle for first place in District 8-5A boys baskwtball, John Ehret and Bonnabel met Tuesday night.

Ehret has emerged as another program earning respect in Jefferson Parish while Bonnabel has been the standard of excellence in the district in previous years.

The frontcourt of the visiting Patriots took over the second half in a 69-60 victory Tuesday night at Bonnabel.

Bonnabel (15-12, 1-1) jumped out a hot start with consecutive layups by Thomas Molette and Quinn Jackson on the way to an early 12-2 lead.

Allen Shaw Jr. helped Ehret (16-6, 2-0) rally, hitting consecutive baskets to cut the Bruins lead to 14-10 before Jeremiah Lucas extended the Bruin advantage back up to 21-12 with a drive and lay-in.

A 8-0 run to start the second quarter for Bonnabel ws fueled by Shawn Knight’s back-to-back three-pointers before Dai’sean McGee scored a driving layup to make 29-15.

In a sign of things to come, the Patriots bounced back in big way with a 10-1 run. Ashton Rabathaly nailed a three-pointer and driving layup, Kenyon Chirlow drove for a layup and Joshua Grabert Jr. knocked down a three-pointer. Ehret was back within striking distance, cutting the Bonnabel lead to 34-33 at the half.

John Kelly started the Patriots off in the second half with a reverse layup that gave the Patriots a 35-34 lead. Bonnabel answered with two consecutive three-pointers by Knight but Ehret took control of the third quarter with a 10-1 run.

Ehret’s front court of Kelly, Montel Robinson and JaQuan Brignac imposed their will on the Bruins in the fourth quarter. Kelly powered home a layup in the paint. Brignac took advantage of a press break with a two-handed slam dunk. Robinson then scored consecutive layups to put the game out of reach.

“The team stayed with energy and we came together as a family,” said Kelly. “It was a long game that we was trying to piece the small things. It wasn’t about the marathon but it was about piecing things back together.”

Ehret had three players score in double figures led by Kelly with 15 points including 12 points in the second half. Chirlow finished with 12. Robinson scored 10.

“I told my team that I didn’t want this game to make and brake our season. Trust each other and the man in next to you. I told Micah that we’re going to get there with you because you will not be the only team going to the playoffs,” said John Ehret Head Coach Everett Armand Jr. “Jefferson Parish Basketball is on the rise with John Ehret and Bonnabel. We had to trust our size and we got away with a win.”

Bonnabel also had three players in double figures. Lucas led all scorers with 19 points, Knight finished with 12 and Bernard Hubbard added 11.

“We had a smaller lineup and they took advantage late in the game with rebounding. We played one of the toughest schedules in the state and it’s trying to make us battle tested,” said Bonnabel head coach Micah Hagans. “Ehret is a really good team and they are going to do well in the playoffs. We kind of ran out gas because earlier we had a lot of energy. They imposed their will on the inside and it hurt us.”

John Ehret will carry their momentum in district play on the road at Chalmette on Friday night. Bonnabel will look to bounce back in the district at crosstown rival East Jefferson this Friday night.