Basketball Report: St. Aug remains red hot, takes easy win Monday over Brother Martin

You want to be playing your best basketball at the right time, by the end of each season.

Mitchell Johnson is a happy man as his St. Augustine Purple Knights are peaking at the right time.

The Purple Knights completed a season sweep of Brother Martin, whipping the Crusaders 59-35 at Bob Conlin Gymnasium Monday. It was the eighth straight win, all in District 9-5A play for St. Augustine. The Purple Knights defeated Brother Martin 55-56 on Jan. 28 at Watson Jones Gymnasium.

The Purple Knights (20-8, 9-1) controlled play from start to finish. St. Aug led 16-6 after one quarter as Devon Jefferson pumped in 12 points. At the half, it was 26-16 as Jefferson had 17 points in the half. The Purple Knights opened up an insurmountable 45-27 lead after three quarters and coasted to the victory.

Jefferson led St. Aug with 23 points, Tyrone Trufant had 12 points and Dante’ Smith finished with 11 for the Purple Knights. Victor Tomlinson had 14 points while T.J. Small finished with 12 for the Crusaders (15-13, 5-6). St. Augustine was just sixth in the most recent LHSAA power rankings but rising and quite dangerous.

The Purple Knights remain first in the Catholic League. The Purple Knights host Archbishop Shaw Friday at 7 p.m. before concluding district play Saturday at Holy Cross in a make-up contest. The Crusaders, who have now lost four straight and six of their last seven games, will play at Archbishop Rummel Friday at 7 p.m.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Mon., Feb. 12

Boys

New Orleans Area

De La Salle 68, St. Charles Catholic 42

Warren Easton 70, McMain 50

Grace King 79, Cohen 58

Lusher 65, St. James 43

Newman 77, Fisher 30

Northshore 62, Ponchatoula 57

Phoenix 83, Lutheran 47

Riverside 77, Archbishop Hannan 38

Runnels 75, French Settlement 63

Slidell 56, Fontainebleau 53

South Plaquemines 72, Grand Isle 38

St. Augustine 59, Brother Martin 35

St. Paul’s 89, Mandeville 56

Thibodaux 89, East St. John 43

Baton Rouge Area

Ascension Catholic 68, Ascension Christian 53

Brusly 72, Mentorship Academy 45

St. John 62, Kentwood 48

White Castle 66, East Iberville 56

Bayou Area

Berwick 58, North Vermilion 50

South Terrebonne 88, South Lafourche 83

Centerville 75, Central Catholic 60

West St. Mary 75, Loreauville 50

Area Prep Basketball Schedule for Tues., Feb. 13

Boys

New Orleans Area

Covington at Hammond, 7:15 p.m.

East Jefferson at Higgins, 7:15 p.m.

Baton Rouge Area

Ascension Christian at Ascension Catholic, 7 p.m.

Capitol at Port Allen, 7 p.m.

Cecilia at Livonia, 7 p.m.

Denham Springs at Central, 7 p.m.

East Feliciana at Episcopal, 6 p.m.

Jehovah-Jireh at Doyle, 6 p.m.

Kentwood at St. John, 7 p.m.

Northeast at The Church Academy, 7 p.m.

Scotlandville at Zachary, 7 p.m.

Walker at Live Oak, 7 p.m.

Bayou Area

Ellender at E.D. White Catholic, 6 p.m.