Basketball: Riverside, Walker, Newman, Catholic take tournament championships

Make it three tournament championships for tradition power Riverside.

The Rebels remained unbeaten, claiming their third tournament championship of the season, holding off host St. Thomas More 66-62 in the championship game of the Sunkist Shootout in Lafayette Saturday evening.

The Rebels took a solid 19-11 lead after one quarter before taking a 28-21 lead into halftime. It was 44-39 after three quarters and the Rebels held off the Cougars for the victory. Riverside’s biggest lead was 11 points while St. Thomas More led briefly by two points in the first quarter.

Playing through injury, Alabama signee Jared Butler led Riverside (18-0) with 24 points, 11 rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Garland Robertson had 16 points and Jeremiah Bigham added 15 points and eight rebounds.

Jonathan Cisse led the Cougars (10-7) with 32 points and six rebounds while Jude Joseph finished with eight points for St. Thomas More. Riverside dominated on the glass, outrebounding STM 33-22.

Butler was named the tournament Most Valuable Player and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Robertson, Cisse and Carter Dominique of St. Thomas More, Matthew McNeese of McGill-Toolen (AL), Braxton Eubanks of Madison Ridgeland (MS), Eli Mouton of Ascension Episcopal, Thomas Howell of St. Mary’s, Justin Thomas of St. Thomas Aquinas and Ben Preuett of Grace Christian.

Both teams will play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic which begins Tuesday evening at the Alario Center in Westwego.

At St. Paul’s, Walker whipped East Ascension 67-46 to win the 3^rd Annual Gene Bennett Classic.

Walker took control from the start, leading 19-6 after one quarter and the Wildcats blew it open to lead 40-16 by halftime. It was 54-34 after three quarters.

Jalen Cook led the way for the Wildcats (16-2) with 19 points while Josh Cook chipped in with nine points. Hobert Grayson led the Spartans (9-4) with 17 points while Jimel London had 12 points.

Cook of was named the Most Valuable Player and he was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammate Jalen Perkins, Grayson, Kolbe Warren of Slidell and Parker Edwards of St. Paul’s.

Walker returns to action Wednesday, hosting St. Amant at 6 p.m.

Newman captured the championship of the Archbishop Hannan Hustle, defeating Covington 58-49.

The Greenies led 11-7 after one quarter and led 27-17 at halftime. It was 43-27 going to the final quarter and Newman was never threatened.

Riley Demps led Newman (16-2) with 25 points while Javon Ruffin chipped in with 22 points. Demps and Ruffin were named Co-Most Valuable Players in the event. Kejohn Batiste topped the Lions (10-4) with 22 points while Reggie Gause added 15 points.

Newman returns to action Friday at Ben Franklin at 7 p.m. while the Lions will play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Classic.

At Catholic High, the host Bears downed De La Salle 51-41 to win the Red Stick Classic.

It was close throughout. Catholic held a slim 34-33 lead going to the fourth quarter, which the Bears dominated.

John Kelly led the Bears (13-4) with 16 points while Collin Holloway had 13 points. The Cavaliers fell to 9-7 with the loss.

Plaquemine High also won their own tournament, the Green Devil Classic (Click here for recap).

Area Prep Basketball Results from Saturday, Dec. 30

New Orleans Area

Lee (AL) 46, Lusher 42 (Gulf Coast Classic)

Newman 58, Covington 49 (Archbishop Hannan Hustle championship)

Hammond 80, Archbishop Hannan 60 (Archbishop Hannan Hustle)

Pine 43, French Settlement 34 (Archbishop Hannan Hustle)

Riverside 66, St. Thomas More 62 (Sunkist Shootout championship)

Archbishop Rummel 63, St. Mary 56 (Sunkist Shootout)

Walker 67, East Ascension 46 (Gene Bennett Classic championship)

Slidell 62, St. Paul’s 54 (Gene Bennett Classic)

Northshore 37, Mandeville 25 (Gene Bennett Classic)

Baton Rouge Area

Baton Rouge 94, Fisher 68

Brusly 53, West St. Mary 50 (Vermilion Catholic Tournament)

Catholic (BR) 51, De La Salle 41 (Red Stick Classic championship)

Family Christian 53, St. Charles Catholic 42 (Red Stick Classic)

Dunham 63, Doyle 32 (Episcopal Tournament)

Episcopal 66, Northlake Christian 36  (Episcopal Tournament)

Live Oak 51, St. John 45 (Episcopal Tournament)

Jehovah-Jireh 53, St. Michael 52 (Red Stick Classic)

Madison Prep 48, Bossier 46

Plaquemine 52, Helen Cox 50  (Plaquemine Tournament championship)

St. Amant 82, Airline 52 (Airline-Doc Edwards Memorial Tournament)

Bayou Area

Central Lafourche 61, South Terrebonne 41  (E.D. White Catholic Classic)

H.L. Bourgeois 55, E.D. White Catholic 4  (E.D. White Catholic Classic)

South Lafourche 78, West St. John 59 (E.D. White Catholic Classic)

St. James 43, Amite 41 (E.D. White Catholic Classic)

Terrebonne 44, Central Catholic 38 (E.D. White Catholic Classic)

Covenant Christian 55, Vermilion Catholic 49 (Vermilion Catholic Tournament)

Girls

New Orleans Area

Bishop Kenny, FL 53, Archbishop Chapelle 32

Gulf Coast, FL 53, Ursuline 51

Mount Carmel 70, Archbishop Hannan 12

Sequoia, CA 34, St. Mary’s Academy 25

Slidell 47, French Settlement 36

South Lafourche 58, Helen Cox 42

Wenonah, AL 63, Warren Easton 44

Baton Rouge Area

Ellender 71, Donaldsonville 22

St. John 42, St. Charles Catholic 40

Bayou Area

Thibodaux 40, New Iberia 23