Basketball: Recapping a busy Wednesday on the local hardwood

East St. John, East Jefferson, Shaw and Ehret boys plus West Jeff girls win Wednesday

If you are looking for a good team that could play deep into the playoffs, take a close look at East St. John.

In a battle of unbeatens, The Wildcats remained unbeaten with a 46-42 victory at Archbishop Hannan Wednesday.

The game was close throughout.

The teams were tied 8-8 after one quarter before the Wildcats took a 17-16 halftime lead. It was 33-30 East St. John going to the fourth quarter.

Kylon Harris led the Wildcats with 24 points, including a trio of 3-pointers and sank 9-of-11 free throws. Devin Davis had seven points and Bryce Gilyot had six points for East St. John.

The Wildcats led 42-41 when Jabari Bolden scored and was fouled, completing a 3-point play in the final minute to put it away.

“It was a very defensive game and I thought we played well,” East St. John coach Antonio Broadway said. “It was our third game in three nights so we were a little gassed. Errol Gauff does a wonderful job with the Hannan team. We missed a lot of shots around the rim that could have made it easier. It was close throughout. The most we led by with five seconds left.”

Drew Timmons led Hannan with 13 points while Kareem Johnson had 12 points.

East St. John (7-0) will travel to Family Christian Friday at 7 p.m. while Hannan (5-1) will travel to Archbishop Shaw next Tuesday at 7 p.m.

With a new coach and many new players, East Jefferson, coming off a good season, might be viewed as a rebuilding program.

Perhaps that is not the case.

In the Sophie B. Wright Tournament, East Jefferson downed Helen Cox 59-50.

East Jefferson led 16-6 after one quarter and led 30-14 at halftime. It was 44-30 going to the fourth quarter before the Cougars made a bit of a run. The Warriors stabilized things to post the win.

Freshman Eugene Stevenson led the way with 23 points, going 3-for-5 from 3-point range with seven rebounds and five assists while big man Jeff Landry finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Arthur Oliver scored 13 points, four steals, six assists and four rebounds.

Having taken over late, at the start of the school year, new Warriors coach Kevin Hunt likes his young team but sees it as a work in progress.

“We were up 30-14 and we got too caught up in ourselves, wanting to score,” Hunt said. “We had to put a better plan in place. We are still learning each other. It is a learning process. We missed a lot of free throws in the second half. The majority of the team is freshmen, very young and we have three freshmen on the floor. We are playing pretty well. It is not how you are playing now, it is how you are playing at the end of the season.”

East Jefferson (6-3) plays John F. Kennedy at 8:45 p.m. this evening in the Sophie B. Wright Tournament. Helen Cox (0-6) returns to action next Tuesday at Higgins at 6 p.m.

Archbishop Shaw continues to show well early in the season. The Eagles went to Pearl River and dominated the Rebels 75-30 Thursday.

Kam Johnson led the way with 22 points for the Eagles while Rodney Phillips had 17 points and Christian Harris had 14 points.

Shaw (5-1) returns to action Friday night at South Lafourche at 7 p.m. while the Rebels (0-1) travel to Douglass Friday at 6 p.m.

John Ehret won 83-44 at International High.

Freshman Eddie McIntyre led the way for the Patriots with 23 points, including 3-for-3 from 3-point range while adding three assists. Junior Kenyon Cherlow had 13 points, sophomore Evan Avant had 12 points and junior Montel Robinson finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

John Ehret (4-1) returns to action this evening at Sarah T. Reed at 6 p.m. while the Panthers (0-5) will host South Plaquemines Monday at 6 p.m.

In girls action at the Slidell Tournament, West Jefferson downed Slidell 48-36.

Junior Kyra Bradley led the Buccaneers with 15 points while junior TyRaj Crockett had 12 points. Junior Keaera Holmes added nine points.

West Jefferson (5-2) returns to action in the tournament against Amite this evening at 6:15 p.m. while the Tigers (5-3) will play Salmen at 3:45 p.m.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Wednesday, Nov. 1

Abramson Sci Academy 75, Christ Episcopal 65

Archbishop Shaw 75, Pearl River 30

Bogalusa 60, Crescent City Christian 32

East Jefferson 59, Helen Cox 50

East St. John 46, Archbishop Hannan 42

Hahnville 64, Slidell 45

Jesuit 52, Ben Franklin 40

John Ehret 83, International High 44

Kentwood 57, Jewel Sumner 45

Sophie B. Wright 73, Central Lafourche 45

Springfield 60, Mount Hermon 32

Girls

Assumption 55, St. James 40

Christ Episcopal 26, Lusher Charter 24

Ellender 71, Hahnville 54

Kenner Discovery 59, New Orleans Military & Maritime 19

Kentwood 31, Jewel Sumner 26

Livingston Collegiate 66, Booker T. Washington (NO) 14

Salmen 54, De La Salle 43

Springfield 59, Independence 23

West Jefferson 48, Slidell 36