Basketball: Jesuit overcomes Catholic in battle of Division I contenders

Area Boys Prep Basketball Report for Sunday, Dec. 23

In a very small Division I bracket in which defending state champion Scotlandville is the heavy favorite, Jesuit and Catholic of Baton Rouge could well see each other again in the state playoffs.

That did not deter the two schools from scheduling each other in the regular season.

The Blue Jays rallied from an early deficit to overcome the Bears 68-63 at The Bird Cage Saturday evening.

Jesuit was third in the most recent Division I power rankings behind Scotlandville and St. Augustine while Catholic was fifth.

Catholic jumped on Jesuit early to take a 20-12 lead after one quarter but the Blue Jays owned the rest of the game.

Jesuit rallied to tie the game 32-32 by halftime and took a 50-45 lead into the final quarter and maintained the margin to take the win. The Bears got to within three points on a couple of occasions in the final quarter but could never get on top.

Elijah Morgan topped the Blue Jays (16-2) with 20 points, Noah Varnado had 17 points and Robert McMahon finished with 13 points. Kentrell Garnet carried the Bears (10-4) with 37 points in a brilliant performance but it was not enough as Jesuit won its third straight game.

Both teams will take time off for the holidays next.

Jesuit opens District 9-5A play Jan. 2 at home against John Curtis Christian at 7 p.m. while Catholic will return to action at home against The Church Academy at 7:15 p.m. on Jan. 3.

Area Boys Prep Basketball Results from Saturday, Dec. 22

New Orleans Area

Abbeville 47, West Jefferson 38

Amite 61, St. Amant 58

Bellaire (TX) 71, Crescent City Christian 58

Jesuit 68, Catholic (BR) 63

McMain 64, Archbishop Rummel 62

Newman 44, Archbishop Shaw 40

Salmen 51, Destrehan 34

Sophie B. Wright 80, West Oaks (FL) 70

Baton Rouge Area

East Ascension 64, Live Oak 54

Episcopal 92, Church Point 34

Madison Prep 74, Denham Springs 52

Scotlandville 93, Dutchtown 52

South Beauregard 56, West Feliciana 30

Walker 74, University High 66

Bayou Area

Terrebonne 59, Brother Martin 52

E.D. White Catholic 44, Archbishop Hannan 43