Dwight Magee drains 8 three-pointers to power Crescent City past Holy Cross

WESTWEGO – Crescent City Christian received an invitation to play in the 2024 Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic just days before the event. Head Coach Brandon Russ accepted and the Pioneers came ready make a big splash.

In a tight game until the last three minutes, Dwight Magee’s hot shooting helped Crescent City earn a 71-63 victory Thursday afternoon at the Alario Center.

Crescent City knocked down nine three-pointers with the bulk of that coming from Magee, who led Crescent City with 36 points. He scored 22 points in the opening half and nailed eight three-pointers for the game. Jovanni Perez finished with 22 points. Isaiah Stevens scored 10 points and added seven rebounds.

“Dwight Magee is probably one of the best players in state of Louisiana in the class of 2026. He’s a special kind of talent. I hope more coaches come out and see who Dwight Magee is,” said Russ. “We played a real tough schedule this year. We don’t shy away from competition this year. Our guys are ready for it.”

Crescent City got things going in the second half with driving layups by Perez to take a 45-40 lead. Kayden Andoh drew Holy Cross back wo within two but Magee answered with three-pointers on three occasions to put his team ahead, 60-51.

“If you don’t close out, I’m going to shoot it. If it goes in, it goes in. I keep shooting until I make one,” said Magee. “In my freshman year, I wasn’t locked in every game. I grew up, matured and played every game.”

The Tigers bounced back with an 8-0 run. Pichon and Johnson scored layups in the sequence but Magee and Perez took charge to close the game out with a pair of layups of their own.

Holy Cross (12-3) enjoyed a fast start, leading 10-0 when Derrick Johnson scored a driving layup and a three pointer. Crescent City got their wake call and responded with a 7-0 run. Magee later knocked down back-to-back three-pointers, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 15-11 but driving layups by Abe Taylor and Trey Tyler helped Holy Cross take a 21-13 advantage.

Magee continued his first half assault that included a trio of three-pointers and a pair of buckets in the lan before Cashmere Pichon knocked down a three-pointer that allowed Holy Cross to take a 41-38 lead into the half.

Trent Ramsey led Holy Cross with 15 points. Pichon finished with 14 points.

“It’s going to be tough if we can’t get into a set and buckle down. Those dudes are basketball players,” said Holy Cross Head Coach Mister Kirkwood. “They didn’t do anything special. We let them build up confidence and those dudes hit some pretty good shots. That’s (Crescent City) a pretty good team.”

Crescent City will play Peabody in the quarterfinal round Friday afternoon at 4. Holy Cross will play Booker T. Washington (FL) in the consolation bracket Friday at 8:30 p.m.