Dunham advances to National Bracket title game in Sugar Bowl tourney with win over Sophie B. Wright

WESTWEGO – It is safe to say that Dunham is now among the elite teams in Louisiana in any classification.

Coming off of a state championship in Division III a year ago, the Tigers got a big boost with the addition of Carlos Stewart this season.

Stewart paid huge dividends Friday night, scoring 26 points, including five 3-pointers to pace Dunham to an 81-72 victory over Sophie B. Wright in the semifinals of the Boys National Bracket of the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic at the Alario Center.

Dunham coach Jonathan Pixley feels Stewart makes a huge difference.

“Experience helps, obviously, getting Carlos Stewart eligible, based on where he lived, he was ineligible for us last year as a ninth grader obviously helps a lot and these guys are used to winning now,” Pixley said. “When you play a team like this that’s also used to winning and they present different problems, these guys just figure out a way to get it done.”

Just a sophomore, Stewart looked the part of a seasoned veteran against a very talented opponent.

“I feel that this group is pretty good and I fit right in with them,” Stewart said. “I feel that to win this game, we had to play strong and we had to get rebounds and that’s what we did. When I am shooting well, I want the ball and feel confident they will go in and go to work. I feel when I am hot, I can’t miss so I just keep on shooting the ball.”

After Dunham went on a 9-0 run to take a 19-8 lead, Sophie B. Wright closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 19-16. Salle Wilson had eight points for the Tigers.

The Warriors went on an 11-0 run in the second quarter to take a 27-21 lead but Dunham responded with a 10-0 run to close the half to take a 31-27 lead at the break. Gregory Hammond, Jr. had 14 points in the half for the Warriors.

The Warriors had a productive third quarter, using a 10-0 run to take a 48-43 lead but Dunham rallied to tie it 55-55 by the end of the quarter. Carlos Stewart had 14 points in the quarter for the Tigers.

In the final quarter, Dunham scored the first four points to take a 59-57 lead and never trailed again, using a 7-0 run to take a 69-59 lead and closing the game on a 7-0 run to put it away.

“It was an incredible game of runs,” Pixley said. “We’re looking at being up 10 to down 10 and the next thing you know, it’s back and forth. They are a very, very good team, they play hard and this was a big win for us tonight.”

The Tigers sank 11 shots from 3-point range in an outstanding shooting display and outrebounded the taller Warriors 28-24.

Dunham advances to face Bishop Loughlin of Brooklyn, NY in the championship game at 7 pm Saturday night in a game that you can watch live at CrescentCitySports.com.

“They are very similar to the group we just played with a little more bulk around the rim,” Pixley said. “It’s going to present a different problem for us but hopefully, we will be up to the test.”

Final
Dunham 19 12 24 26 81
Sophie B. Wright 16 11 28 17 72

Scoring
Dunham
Carlos Stewart 26, Salle Wilson 16, Jordan Wright 12, Ralph Davenport 11, Tyveon Spurlock 9, Dejean Woods 5,

Sophie B. Wright
Gregory Hammond, Jr. 29, Damiree Burns 15, Charlie Russell, Jr. 13, Jerome Anthony 7, Jordan Jackson 5, Dandrick Green 3

Rebounds
Dunham 28, Sophie B. Wright 24

Turnovers
Dunham 22, Sophie B. Wright 21