Basketball: M.L. King Charter stuns McMain; Country Day, Mandeville win

Area Prep Basketball Report for Thursday, Jan. 19

Just two days after celebrating its namesake’s legacy, Martin Luther King Charter began building its basketball legacy.

The Jagaurs captured their biggest win of the season and perhaps the biggest in the young program’s history with a 59-57 win at McMain.

The Mustangs won the 2020 Class 4A state championship and reached the title game a year ago.

M.L. King Charter jumped out to a 15-8 lead after one quarter and held on to a 26-25 lead at halftime. It was 40-36 going to the final quarter.

Senior Darunce Allen led MLK with 25 points while senior Darrell Franklin had 10 points and sophomore Chris Doyle finished with eight points.

Donte Briggs led the way for the Mustangs with 17 points, Melvin Lambert had 14 points and Lionel Larvadain finished with nine points.

McMain was 10th in the most recent LHSAA Division I power rankings while the Jaguars were fifth in the Division III power rankings.

M.L. King Charter (14-8) returns to action Friday at Helen Cox at 5 p.m. while McMain (7-2) will host Warren Easton today at 7 p.m.

In a thriller, Country Day edged Vandebilt Catholic 63-61 at Houma.

The game was close throughout and the Terriers opened up an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter before the Cajuns stormed back.

Senior Jordan Trahan took over when it mattered most, scoring the final 14 points of the game and rallying Country Day to victory.

Trahan finished with 31 points.

Cam Terrell and Maddox Moss each scored 10 points for the Cajuns.

Jordan Matthews and Josiah Johnson each scored 16 points for the Terriers.

Country is currently second in the most recent LHSAA Division III power rankings, behind Newman.

Vandebilt Catholic is fifth in the most recent LHSAA Division II power rankings.

Country Day (18-5) will host Karr Friday at 7 p.m. while Vandebilt Catholic (15-4) plays at Houma Christian Friday at 6 p.m.

Mandeville won 46-42 at Helen Cox.

Josh Pearson led Mandeville with 19 points, Nate Sheppard had 13 points and Charles Stipe finished with eight points.

The Skippers (15-8) will return to District 6-5A play Friday at Northshore.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Wednesday, Jan. 18

Boys
Amite 77, Independence 38
Country Day 63, Vandebilt Catholic 61
Fisher 53, Ecole Classique 9
Lutcher 68, Ascension Catholic 55
Mandeville 46, Helen Cox 42
M.L. King Charter 59, McMain 57
Patrick Taylor 63, Kenner Discovery 37
Pope John Paul II 61, Sarah T. Reed 38

Girls
Academy of Sacred Heart (NO) 47, John F. Kennedy 29
Ascension Catholic 66, Christ Episcopal 15
De La Salle 40, Riverdale 32
Northshore 68, West Jefferson 34
Phoenix 32, St. Mary’s Academy 24
Pope John Paul II 43, Sarah T. Reed 8
St. James 45, Capitol 34