Boys Basketball: Crescent City handles Runnels to secure third straight district title

To say Shaun Dumas has done an outstanding job at Crescent City Christian would be an understatement.

Dumas guided the Pioneers to the 2017 state championship in Division V, beating Jehovah-Jireh, and to the state title game in 2018, falling in the final to Jehovah-Jireh.

The Pioneers are playing their best basketball heading toward the playoffs.

After playing a very challenging schedule early in the season, the Pios have turned it on in the second half of the season.

Last night, Crescent City wrapped up its third straight unbeaten district championship, whipping Runnels 72-47 to capture the District 7B title.

Crescent City (22-12, 6-0) has now won 15 of its last 17 games.

The Pios started slowly against the Raiders but led 14-10 after one quarter behind a pair of offensive rebounds and put-backs by Glenn Rhone.

The lead grew to 31-23 by halftime. Caleb White was a force inside with four blocks and seven rebounds in the quarter for the Pios.

Crescent City Christian blew it open in the third quarter, outscoring Runnels 22-2 to take a commanding 53-25 going to the final quarter. Byron Joshua exploded with 14 points in the quarter, along with five steals and three assists.

Joshua added 12 points in the final quarter to help put the game away. Joshua was superb, scoring 29 points, including 23 in the second half. Jordin Farrell had 10 points, Rhone finished with eight points and nine rebounds. White had five points with 11 rebounds and nine blocks and Keane Smith added six points and six rebounds.

Cade Tate led Runnels (27-14, 3-3) with 11 points while Collin Coates finished with eight points.

“I think the guys played hard and focused in on their defensive principles in the second half,” Dumas said. “The way we played defense in the third quarter was really impressive. We have to find a way to play like that for longer periods of time.”

Dumas feels good chemistry has been important to the team’s success.

“The guys did a good job of playing like they love each other,” Dumas said. “Like they have each other back through thick and thin. That’s the most impressive thing about tonight. The guys played like they loved each other.”

As the streak continues, Dumas reflected on what his team has done and what is yet to be done.

“It’s such an accomplishment to go three years undefeated in district,” Dumas said. “It’s more of a mental thing for the guys, so I kept preaching about the legacy that they leave is being written by what they do now! And they responded tonight! I’m proud of my guys, but we are not done yet!”

Second in the latest LHSAA power rankings in Division V behind Jehovah-Jireh, Crescent City will host McMain next Wednesday in its regular season finale while Runnels will entertain Springfield at 5 pm Monday. The Raiders are third in the Division V power rankings.

Final
CCC 14 17 22 19 — 72
RUN 10 13 2 22 — 47

Crescent City Scoring:
Byron Joshua 29 points, 7 steals and 6 assists
Jordin Farrell 10 points
Glenn Rhone 8 points 9 rebs
Ahmad Raymond 6 points 4 assists
Keane Smith 6 points 6 Reb
Caleb White 5 points 9 blocks 11 rebs
Tray Wilburn 3 points 8 Reb
Ahmad Johnson 3 points
Aiden Daliet 2 points

Runnels Scoring:
Cade Tate 11points
Collin Coates 8 points
Wesley Stevenson 7 points
Phillip Lukinovich 6 points
Griffin Kennedy 4 points
Ben Holiday 3 points
Collin Bueche 3 points
Jack Kahn 3 points
Ben Stafford 2 points

Area Boys Prep Basketball Results from Friday, Feb. 8

New Orleans Area

Albany 66, Sumner 50
Amite 46, Northlake Christian 41
Bogalusa 62, Hannan 61
Brother Martin 57, Loranger 30
Chalmette 69, Higgins 61
Clark 68, Sci Academy 52
Country Day 49, Jehovah-Jireh 48
Covington 67, Northshore 64
De La Salle 57, St. James 43
Destrehan 63, H. L. Bourgeois 48
East Jefferson 34, Higgins 22
Franklinton 57, Lakeshore 53
Hahnville 72, East St. John 65
Helen Cox 49, McMain 46
Holy Cross 67, Rummel 39
Independence 39, Pine 31
Lake Area New Tech 66, Ben Franklin 51
McDonogh #35 58, Riverdale 51
Ponchatoula 68, Fontainebleau 50
Salmen 75, Pearl River 43
South Plaquemines 65, Family christian 54
St. Augustine 49, Jesuit 42
West Jefferson 62, Grace King 47

Bayou Area

Assumption 90, Vandebilt 43
Central Lafourche 75, Terrebonne 65
E.D. White 32, South Lafourche 31
Ellender 58, Morgan City 40
Thibodaux 67, South Terrebonne 41

Baton Rouge Area

Catholic 73, East Ascension 63
Donaldsonville 61, Lusher 53
Dunham 94, Capitol 66
Dutchtown 69, Broadmoor 54
East Iberville 65, Kentwood 45
Glen Oaks 38, Brusly 35
Lee 49, St. Michael 47
Livonia 56, Beau Chene 50
Madison Prep 68, West Feliciana 25
Port Allen 57, Episcopal 39
St. John 70, Ascension Episcopal 64
Woodlawn 65, Tara 42

Area Boys Prep Basketball Schedule for Friday, Feb. 7

New Orleans Area

Pearl River at St. Paul’s 3 p.m.

Baton Rouge Area

Dunham at Port Allen, 5 p.m.