Boys Basketball: Holy Cross handles rival Chalmette before rematch with Bonnabel

Area Boys Prep Basketball Report for Thursday, Dec. 20

It is a rivalry that has persevered through a massive hurricane and school relocation.

Both Holy Cross and Chalmette have risen from the flooding to beautiful new levels of facilities and both are thriving with excellent schools and students.

The deep history and rivalry in all sports continued last night at Chalmette with visiting Holy Cross dominating from start to finish in a convincing 80-44 win over the Owls. It was the third straight win for the Tigers.

The Tigers led 16-12 after one quarter behind seven points from Kalil Thomas. Holy Cross took total control in the second quarter, outscoring the Owls 24-6 to lead 40-18 by halftime as Thomas had 11 points at the break. The Tigers continued to pull away, leading 64-30 after three quarters before costing to victory.

Tigers head coach Mister Kirkwood likes what he saw.

“My guys played very well, we needed a game like that,” Kirkwood said. “They are a solid team. I was very pleased. This is the way we strive to play nightly. We put it together in the second quarter and that carried on. We are still gelling and incorporating the football guys, trying to get them playing time. We’re going in the right direction.”

Thomas led Holy Cross (12-4) with 23 points, Aaron Ursin had 14 points, Myles Sanders scored 11 and Sidney Madison chipped in with 10 points. The Tigers return to action Friday night in a tough road game at Bonnabel at 7 p.m. while the Owls (7-9) will try to snap a three-game losing streak Friday at Central Lafourche.

This will be the second meeting between Holy Cross and Bonnabel this season. The Bruins won 69-60 in Gonzales on Dec. 8.

“We played Bonnabel in the championship of the East Ascension Tournament and lost to them by nine points,” Kirkwood said. “It will be a tough game. It will be a tough environment.”

Back in 2011, Bonnabel hired Kirkwood as its head basketball coach, only to rescind the offer before Kirkwood ever coached a game after a change in school administration resulted in a change in that decision by the school.

“That is water under the bridge,” Kirkwood said. “We respect them and we are in a very good place.”

Area Boys Prep Basketball Results from Wednesday, Dec. 19

New Orleans Area

Archbishop Hannan 58, Varnado 42

Hahnville 69, East St. John 60

Hammond 59, Jewel Sumer 34

Holy Cross 80, Chalmette 44

J.F. Kennedy 74, Belle Chasse 37

Lakeshore 62, East Jefferson 43

Loranger 64, St. Helena 60

Scotlandville 69, Brother Martin 55

Baton Rouge Area

Central 63, Ascension Catholic 41

Bayou Area

E.D. White Catholic 52, Houma Christian 43

Area Boys Prep Basketball Schedule for Thursday, Dec. 20

New Orleans Area

Belle Chasse at Archbishop Shaw, 7 p.m.

Covington at Independence 6:30 p.m.

East St. John at West St. John, 5 p.m.

Karr at Jesuit, 6:15 p.m.

Livingston Collegiate at Cohen, 7 p.m.

Lusher at McMain, 6:45 p.m.

Pearl River at Bogalusa, 7 p.m.

Pine at Albany, 6 p.m.

Riverside Academy at Lafayette Christian, 7:30 p.m.

South Lafourche at Grace King, 7:15 p.m.

West Jefferson at Lake Charles College Prep, 8 p.m.

Sophie B. Wright vs. Wheeler (GA), 4 p.m. at Adidas Emerald Coast 16 Tournament at Destin, FL

Baton Rouge Area

Baton Rouge vs. Leedey (OK), 5 p.m.

The Church Academy at East Feliciana, 7:30 p.m.

East Ascension at Glen Oaks, 5:40 p.m.

KIPP-B.T. Washington at St. Amant, 7 p.m.

Parkview Baptist at Runnels, 6 p.m.

Southern Lab at Belaire, 6 p.m.

St. Helena at McKinley, 6:30 p.m.

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

Live Oak vs. Madison Prep, 1:30 p.m. at Walker Christmas Classic

Scotlandville vs. Universith High, 2:50 p.m. at Walker Christmas Classic

Ponchatoula vs. Dutchtown, 4:15 p.m. at Walker Christmas Classic

Bayou Area

Assumption at Central Catholic, 7 p.m.

Plaquemine at Thibodaux, 5 p.m.