Basketball: Mount Carmel, East St. John girls among Wednesday winners

Area Prep Basketball Report for Thursday, Feb. 4

Two teams with state championship aspirations hooked up in a huge non-district game played in Metairie at East Jefferson High School to accommodate a few more fans than Orleans Parish would allow.

The game did not disappoint as Mount Carmel Academy edged Warren Easton 61-60 in an overtime thriller.

The Cubs staged a furious comeback to force overtime.

Trailing 53-47 with 41 seconds left, Miranda Strassel nailed a pair of 3-pointers in succession to tie it and send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Mount Carmel built a 61-55 lead then held off a charge by the Eagles for the victory.

In a back-and-forth affair, Warren Easton led 14-10 after one quarter before Mount Carmel got red hot, outscoring the Lady Eagles 21-5 in the second quarter to take a 31-15 halftime lead. Warren Easton battled back, winning the third quarter 20-10 to cut the deficit to 41-35 going to the final quarter.

Strassel led Mount Carmel with 19 points, Taylor Wilkins scored 18 points and Amelia Trautman finished with eight points for the Cubs.

Breanna Sutton led the Lady Eagles with 23 points before fouling out in the final minute or regulation. Zacyra Doazier scored 16 points and Ta’jae Wills had seven points for Warren Easton.

Mount Carmel is first in the most recent LHSAA Division I power rankings released Tuesday while Warren Warren Easton is fifth in the LHSAA Class 4A power rankings released Tuesday.

Mount Carmel (21-4) returns to action in Baton Rouge tonight against University High at 6 p.m. while Warren Easton (13-7), playing for the first time since Jan. 20, returns to District 11-4A play this evening at John F. Kennedy at 5 p.m.

Coming off a tough loss on the road to a very good Hahnville team in district play, East St. John did not have any time to sulk.

The Lady Wildcats returned to action Wednesday night, again on the road but just down the road from Reserve at LaPlace.

The short trip resulted in a long result as East St. John took care of business, whipping St. Charles Catholic 60-33 to snap a 5-game win streak for the Comets.

The Lady Wildcats led 17-11 after one quarter but the Comets cut the deficit to 26-24 at halftime. The third quarter was decisive as East St. John outscored St. Charles Catholic 21-5 to take a commanding 47-29 lead to the final quarter.

Super sophomore Jasmine Matthews led East St. John with 17 points while sophomore Ashia Ward had 14 points.

East St. John (12-10) returns to District 7-5A action next Tuesday at Destrehan at 6 p.m. while the Comets (9-5) travel to St. Mary’s Academy Monday at 5 p.m. in District 11-2A action.

In boys action, Hammond edged Northshore 59-55 at home in District 6-5A action.

The Panthers led 16-13 after one quarter before the game was tied 29-29 at halftime. Hammond took a 45-42 lead going to the final quarter.

Junior Devin Daniels led a balanced attack for the Tornadoes with 18 points. Senior Terrance Selders and senior Justice Kelly each scored 13 points and Jarvis Earlycutt finished with 11 points for Hammond.

Hammond (8-6, 3-3) returns to district play Friday night at Slidell at 7 p.m. while Northshore (16-9, 3-4) hosts Fontainebleau Friday at 7:30 p.m.

East Jefferson remained red hot, whipping Grace King 71-39 ion the road in District 8-5A play for its eighth straight win.

Chris Flippin continued his run of double-doubles with 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Warriors. Molik Reese had 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Tre Knighton scored 10 points with three steals and Keevan Johnson had eight points and two steals for East Jefferson.

Senior Jermaine Russel had 16 points and five rebounds while senior Berlin Wells scored 10 points for the Fighting Irish.

East Jefferson (16-6, 2-0) travels to Chalmette in a showdown for first place in 8-5A Friday night at 7 p.m. Grace King (5-15, 0-3) will host West Jefferson next Tuesday at 7 p.m. in district play.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Wednesday, Feb. 3

Boys

Albany 42, Pearl River 37

East Jefferson 71, Grace King 39

Fontainebleau 70, Covington 44

Hammond 59, Northshore 55

Varnado 52, Pine 39

Girls

East St. John 60, St. Charles Catholic 33

Kenner Discovery 61, Fisher 22

Mount Carmel Academy 61, Warren Easton 60

Ponchatoula 64, Fontainebleau 34