Basketball: Madison Prep edges Newman, Riverdale rips Riverside

Area Prep Basketball Report for Friday, Jan. 20

Regardless of classification, Madison Prep and Newman are two of the best boys basketball teams in Louisiana. Perhaps they are the two best overall.

Madison Prep entered Thursday as the top-ranked team in the most recent LHSAA Select Division II power rankings.

Newman entered Thursday as the top-ranked team in the most recent LHSAA Select Division III power rankings.

Both are defending state champions, with Madison Prep a 2-time defending champion.

The two powers hooked up Thursday night in uptown New Orleans and the game did not disappoint.

In a close game throughout, Madison Prep edged Newman 50-48.

The game was close from the start.

The Chargers led 13-10 after one quarter and 24-21 at halftime before the Greenies rallied to take a 38-35 lead after three quarters.

Josh Smith gave Madison Prep a 49-46 lead with 13 seconds left before Canin Jefferson of Newman made two of three free throw attempts to cut the deficit to 49-48 with just over five seconds remaining. Jamari Thigpen then split a pair of free throws to make it 50-48 with 4.3 seconds remaining. The Greenies failed to get off a final shot as the Chargers survived in a thriller.

Josh Smith led Madison Prep with 21 points, Dylan Dominique had eight points and Jamari Thigpen finished with seven points.

Todd Jones topped Newman with 18 points while Canin Jefferson had 13 points.

Madison Prep (18-1) will play at Southside Friday night while Newman (19-4) plays host Carver in the Carver Hoops Classic Saturday.

In other boys action, Riverdale won at home over Riverside Academy 95-55.

The Rebels did it with a very balanced attack with five players finishing in double fitures.

Monroe Gardner led the Rebels with 18 points, four assists and four steals, Troy Gould had 16 points and five rebounds and Debron Sykes had 12 points and two blocks. Roland Bullard had 11 points and three steals and Jarrell Arline had 10 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three blocks.

Riverdale (11-10) returns to action next Tuesday at John Ehret while Riverside (4-8) will entertain Crescent City Christian next Tuesday in a District 10-1 contest.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Thursday, Jan. 19

Boys
International 75, Rosenwald Collegiate 30
Madison Prep 50, Newman 48
Riverdale 92, Riverside Academy 55
St. Charles Catholic 75, St. John 30
St. Thomas Aquinas 65, Kentwood 52

Girls
Archbishop Hannan 57, Parkview Baptist 51
Ben Franklin 59, Cabrini 38
Bonnabel 57, Grace King 42
Doyle 80, Collegiate (BR) 23
East St. John 66, Riverside Academy 20
Newman 53, Academy of Our Lady 18