Basketball: Ponchatoula sweep boys, girls contests with Slidell

PONCHATOULA – One squad is the favorite atop of its league and looked the part.

The other team is in the middle of the pack, trying to emerge as a contender, also looked the part.

It was a very good Friday evening for the home teams in Ponchatoula.

The Ponchatoula girls, ranked fourth in the state in the most recent Class 5A power rankings, overwhelmed Slidell 88-20.

It was over early as the Green Wave ran away in the first quarter, taking a 30-2 lead. It was 56-10 at halftime and the lead grew to 80-17 after three quarters.

Tulane signee Jaylee Womack was outstanding, as usual, scoring 28 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Taylor Jackson scored 17 points and Libby Thompson added 10 points for the Green Wave.

Ponchatoula (20-2, 5-0) has won five straight games and remains on top in District 6-5A.

Both teams return to action next Tuesday. The Green Wave will host Fontainebleau at 6 p.m. Slidell (10-11, 0-5) will host Covington at 6 p.m.

In boys action, Ponchatoula broke open a close game late to down Slidell 72-57.

The Tigers started fast, taking a 13-8 lead after one quarter and expanded the lead to 24-14 in the second quarter. Ponchatoula then went on an 11-0 run to take a 25-24 lead and closed the half on an 8-2 run to take a 33-30 lead at the half.

The Green Wave broke out to a 42-32 lead but Slidell closed the third quarter on an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to 44-43.

The two teams exchanged baskets and exchanged leads to start the fourth quarter before Ponchatoula simply took over, going on an 8-0 run to lead 56-51 before closing the game on a 14-0 run to pull away for the victory.

Asher Boney was outstanding for the Green Wave, scoring 23 points, including a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Boney added nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Allen Graves had 12 points and six rebounds while Jordan Thomas added 12 points and three steals. Cameron Collier added 10 points.

Micah Willis topped the Tigers with 19 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists but fouled out in the fourth quarter. James Parlow scored 15 points with four assists, three steals and two rebounds and Shann Eaglin contributed 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Both teams are back in action next Tuesday with Ponchatoula (10-8, 2-2) hosting Fontainebleau while Slidell (13-9, 2-2) will entertain Covington.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Friday, Jan. 14

Boys
Abramson Sci Academy 70, Riverdale 69
Albany 62, Loranger 60
Archbishop Hannan 71, Bogalusa 17
Brother Martin 46, Holy Cross 45
East St. John 81, Central Lafourche 55
E.D. White Catholic 69, Phoenix 64
Hahnville 59, De La Salle 48
Jesuit 55, St. Augustine 50
John Curtis Christian 52, Archbishop Rummel 37
Lakeshore 91, Salmen 78
Lutcher 47, St. Charles Catholic 40
Mandeville 52, Fontainebleau 39
Ponchatoula 72, Slidell 57
St. Helena 67, Pine 57
St. Michael 53, Northlake Christian 42
St. Paul’s 69, Northshore 61

Girls
Albany 47, Loranger 43
Bogalusa 58, Archbishop Hannan 49
Ben Franklin 61, Carver 22
Donaldsonville 58, Berwick 5
Doyle 49, French Settlement 47 (OT)
East St. John 57, Central Lafourche 43
E.D. White Catholic 52, St. James 38
Fontainebleau 38, Mandeville 37
Hammond 69, Covington 27
Patterson 54, Lutcher 21
Pine 55, St. Helena 31
Ponchatoula 80, Slidell 22
Salmen 55, Lakeshore 52
Walker 76, Belle Chasse 23