Northshore has huge second quarter, rolls past Mt. Carmel at Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic

WESTWEGO – Giving the ball to your playmakers is usually a winning strategy.

Northshore opened up the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic at the Alario Center with a dominating win 56-26 over Mount Carmel Academy.

The Panthers snapped the Cubs’ three-game winning streak with their own third straight win. After losing their first five games, the Panthers have turned their season around.

Cherie Spencer enjoyed a a huge night with 30 points and 13 rebounds.

“I didn’t realize she had 30 points,” Northshore head coach Michael Gowland said. “I might have taken her out sooner. She played a heck of a game today. She really is a spark plug and as good of a player she is, she’s an even better person. She comes out and is very humble about everything she does.”

After the first quarter, Panthers led 13-7. Northshore never trailed in the game.

The second quarter was dominant by the Panthers, outscoring Mount Carmel 19-2. At halftime, the score was 32-9.

“The game plan was to jump on top early,” Gowland said. “We played the same team two weeks ago and it was an eight-point game. So it was to move the ball and to keep the ball moving. Don’t make the offense stagnant and to get the open shooters shots. Cherie was able to present herself today and she played lights out. Then we had Kacey Smith return, who gave us a big spark off the bench so we were able to adapt and have a good rotation.”

Two three-pointers by Avery Killian helped the Cubs in the third quarter but the Panthers remained in control, 44-22.

Northshore capped the win with a 6-0 run to end the game.

Final:
Northshore- 13 19 12 8 – 52
Mt. Carmel- 7 2 13 4 – 26

Scoring:
Northshore – Cherie Spencer 30, Kacey Smith 10, Aaliyah Yepez 5, Kiley Lizana 5, Grace Smith 2
Mt. Carmel – Avery Killian 9, Lauren Fowler 6, Gianna Hingle 4, Olivia Lacour 3, Julia Kirsch 2, Grace Olivard 2

Rebounds: Northshore 30, Mt. Carmel 15
Turnovers: Northshore 10, Mt. Carmel 11

Area Prep Basketball Results from Wednesday, Jan. 3
Boys
St. Charles Catholic New Year’s Tournament
Bonnabel 76, South Plaquemines 28
De La Salle 61, Northlake Christian 41
E.D. White Catholic 62, Maurepas 29
Riverside Academy 65, Ascension Christian 60
St. Charles Catholic 52, South Lafourche 36
St. James 60, New Orleans Science & Math 47
St. Martin’s Episcopal 67, Lutcher 64
Vandebilt Catholic 67, Willow School 40

Others:
Cohen 70, Kenner Discovery 59
Kaplan 61, Berwick 57
Landry 90, West Jefferson 66
Salmen 77, Bogalusa 50
Slidell 87, Sarah Reed 45
West St. John 67, International 30

Girls
Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic
Amite 58, De La Salle 30
Karr 58, Newman 50
Mandeville 54, Warren Easton 24
Northshore 52, Mount Carmel Academy 24

Archbishop Chapelle Catholic Tournament
Archbishop Chapelle 40, St. Michael 11
Archbishop Hannan 61, Cabrini 40
Dominican 54, Academy of the Sacred Heart 28

Others:
Abramson 37, Geo Next Generation 33
Archbishop 61, Cabrini 40
Denham Springs 42, St. Scholastica 29
Douglass 37, McMain 26
Fontainebleau 53, St. Joseph’s Academy 42
South Lafourche 48, E.D. White Catholic 45
St. James 51, Holden 48
Willow School 46, First Baptist Christian 17