Basketball: STA knocks off top-ranked Riverside girls; John Curtis whips Ursuline again

The latest Division III girls power rankings had unbeaten Riverside Academy as the top-ranked team in Louisiana. That is likely to change.

St. Thomas Aquinas saw to it with a convincing 61-44 home victory over the Lady Rebels in Hammond Tuesday evening.

The Falcons led 19-11 after one quarter but Riverside tied it 26-26 by halftime. A 13-4 third quarter run separated the two teams to give the Falcons a 43-34 lead going to the final quarter and STA led the rest of the way for the impressive victory.

Jade Brumfield led St. Thomas Aquinas (5-4) with 23 points while Caroline Ingraffia finished with eight points. Kayla Keller and Lilly Maggio each added seven points for the Falcons.

St. Thomas Aquinas will open play in the Walker Tournament Thursday while Riverside (6-1) will play at Houma Christian Friday at 6 p.m.

In a battle of two recent state champions, defending Division I state champion John Curtis Christian scored a solid 66-47 victory over 2016 Class 4A state champion Ursuline at River Ridge.

The Lions started well, taking a 10-9 lead after one quarter before the Patriots exploded in the second quarter, outscoring Ursuline 25-10 to take a 34-20 halftime lead and were never threatened in the second half.

Dynah Jones led the Lady Patriots (9-1) with 20 points while Abryhia Irons had 14 points and Jerkalia Jordan added 12. Florida State signed Kourtney Weber led Ursuline with 17 points, Kennedi Jackson had 12 and Kiersten Nelson added 11 points for the Lions (8-2).

It was the second win for Curtis over Ursuline this season. The Lady Patriots downed the Lions 67-49 at Ursuline on Nov. 22.

Curtis will host Ellender Thursday at 6 p.m. while Ursuline will host Destrehan Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Area Prep Basketball Results from Tuesday, Dec. 12

Boys

New Orleans Area

Archbishop Rummel 55, St. Thomas Aquinas 51

Brother Martin 67, Chalmette 39

Destrehan 63, John Ehret 51

Dunham 66, De La Salle 59

Hahnville 90, KIPP Renaissance 66

Jesuit 58, Mandeville 42

Lakeshore 52, Kentwood 50

Lutheran 63, Ridgewood 23

McMain 68, Thomas Jefferson 37

St. Charles Catholic 47, Runnels 28

Jewel Sumner 55, Northshore 44

West Jefferson 98, Ben Franklin 50

Baton Rouge Area

Albany 48, Pine 42

Ascension Christian 46, French Settlement 42

Broadmoor 47, Port Allen 42

Carencro 64, University 59

Central 64, False River 26

Episcopal 45, Teurlings Catholic 40

Glen Oaks 67, Lee 49

Independence 66, Bogalusa 41

Madison Prep 80, Crescent City Christian 58

Plaquemine 82, St. John 34

Springfield 65, Holden 47

West Feliciana 81, Delta Charter 61

White Castle 50, Loranger 40

Bayou Area

Centerville 62, Loreauville 48

Morgan City 67, Berwick 45

Rayne 54, Franklin 48

South Terrebonne 78, West St. John 47

Girls

New Orleans Area

Academy of Our Lady 49, Lusher 16

Amite 54, Mandeville 52

Bogalusa 56, St. Martin’s Episcopal 25

John Curtis 66, Ursuline 47

Dominican 51, De La Salle 27

Doyle 56, Northlake Christian 53

Fontainebleau 83, Carver 58

Franklinton 66, Varnado 32

Ben Franklin 56, Pope John Paul II 30

KIPP Renaissance 30, Clark 7

Lake Area New Tech 44, McMain 35

Mount Carmel 52, Karr 20

Riverdale 56, Academy of Sacred Heart (NO) 41

St. Thomas Aquinas 61, Riverside 44

Baton Rouge Area

Albany 54, Pine 25

Carencro 57, University 55

Cecilia 56, Brusly 34

The Church Academy 43, Belaire 22

Delta Charter 66, French Settlement 41

Dunham 43, St. John 23

Warren Easton 57, Ellender 55

Family Christian 44, Runnels 31

French Settlement 60, Ascension Christian 50

Plaquemine 47, White Castle 35

Parkview Baptist 48, Ville Platte 33

Bayou Area

Hahnville 56, Central Lafourche 24

Morgan City 68, Grand Isle 13

South Terrebonne 53, St. James 43

Thibodaux 52, Vandebilt Catholic 34

E.D. White Catholic 61, Ascension Catholic 30

Area Prep Basketball Schedule for Wednesday, Dec. 13

Boys

New Orleans Area

Ascension Catholic at West St. John, 7 p.m.

Clark at Carver, 6:30 p.m.

East St. John at Higgins, 7:15 p.m.

Patrick Taylor at Belle Chasse, 7 p.m.

Salmen at Slidell, 7:15 p.m.

St. James at Grand Isle, 7 p.m.

Baton Rouge Area

Amite at Jewel Sumner, 7:45 p.m.

Central at Glen Oaks, 5:30 p.m.

East Ascension at Plaquemine, 5:30 p.m.

St. John at Catholic (PC), 6 p.m. at Catholic (PC) Tournament

Bayou Area

H.L. Bourgeois at Northside, 7 p.m.

Girls

New Orleans Area

Belle Chasse at St. Scholastica, 5:30 p.m.

Bonnabel at Riverdale, 5:30 p.m.

Carver at West Jefferson, 6 p.m.

McDonogh 35 at St. Mary’s Academy, 6 p.m.

South Plaquemines at KIPP Renaissance, 5 p.m.

Baton Rouge Area

Broadmoor at Episcopal, 6 p.m.

Catholic (PC) at St. John, 5 p.m.

Destrehan at Madison Prep, 5 p.m.

Dominican at Woodlawn (BR), 6 p.m.

Livonia at Brusly, 6 p.m.

McKinley at Lee, 5 p.m.

West Feliciana at Tara, 6 p.m.

Bayou Area

Grace King at Terrebonne, 6 p.m.