Replay: Hahnville exacts revenge with 72-60 win over East St. John

BOUTTE – Perhaps missing time is overrated.

Hahnville had to sit for 21 days due to COVID-19 protocol issues.

When the Tigers returned this past Saturday, they did not miss a beat, drilling Thibodaux easily.

Stepping up in class, the test was much more severe Tuesday night against an East St. John team that was unbeaten in District 7-5A and had already beaten the Tigers on Jan. 8.

The Wildcats are unbeaten no more.

Hahnville played even better, dominating the first and third quarters in a 72-60 victory at home Tuesday night in a game seen live at CrescentCitySports.com.

Charleston Southern signee Claudell Harris Jr. led the way with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.

“It was all about redemption,” Harris said. “We had to come out and prove ourselves. We didn’t play to our full potential the first time. We had to come out and show people the team that we really are. We were hot in the first quarter. We came out in the second quarter, we kind of went into a slump. We came our hard at halftime and started extending the lead.”

A pair of 11-0 runs, one each in the first and third quarters, were decisive for the Tigers.

After falling behind 5-2, Hahnville went on an 11-0 run to take a 13-5 lead and led 20-12 after one quarter behind 11 points from Charleston Southern commit Claudell Harris, who nailed a trio of 3-pointers.

Hahnville took a 29-19 lead in the second quarter before East St. John clamped down on defense and closed the deficit to 29-23 by halftime.

The Tigers took control in the third quarter, going on runs 8-0 and 11-0 to take a commanding 53-34 lead going to the fourth quarter and the Tigers were able to go to their bench in the final quarter.

Harris finished with 22 points, including 11 each in the first and third quarter. Harris added eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Kaden Pierre finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Cameron Lumar had nine points off the bench for the Tigers, who avenged a 70-66 loss to the Wildcats in Reserve.

“I think we took them for granted the first time,” Hahnville coach Yussef Jasmine said. “We didn’t respect our opponent the first time around. I told my guys after the game we didn’t respect the game of basketball. You are privileged and blessed to play the game. You’ve got to respect the game and play the game the way it is meant to be played and tonight we did a better job of it.”

Jahyrie Victor led the Wildcats with 24 points and eight rebounds while Kylon Harris and Derron Taylor each scored 11 for East St. John,

“We were fresh at the beginning of the game and we were fresh coming out of halftime,” Jasmine said. “The challenge moving forward is we have to learn how to do that in the second and fourth quarter, too! Claudell and Kaden are our two guys. They’ve been here with me four years. We know we can trust them and they trust us. We have a great relationship.”

Hahnville (14-3, 3-1) returns to district play Friday night at Thibodaux while East St. John (16-6, 5-1) will play a non-district game at Patterson Thursday night at 6 p.m.

The Tigers were as sharp as ever and have lofty goals after reaching the Final Four a year ago.

“We took the pride as individuals to work hard and come back stronger as a unit after the quarantine,” Harris said. “Nothing less than a state championship. Anything less is a disappointment.”

FINAL
HHS 20 9 23 20 — 72
ESJ 12 11 11 26 — 60

Scoring:

HHS—Claudell Harris 22, Kaden Pierre 18, Cameron Lumar 9, Tyren Lebeauf 8, Koi Smith 5, Billy Davis 4, Da’Quon Price 2, Caleb Jones 2, Corey Lorio 2

ESJ—Jahyrie Victor 24, Kylon Harris 11, Derron Taylor 11, Jabari Bolden 6, Robert Ferrygood 4, John Bowser 2, Khoi Jones 2

Rebounds: HHS 32, ESJ 26

Assists: HHS 14, ESJ 7

Turnovers: HHS 8, ESJ 11

Area Prep Basketball Results from Tuesday, Feb. 2

Boys
Archbishop Shaw 51, Holy Cross 43
Chalmette 66, West Jefferson 55
Donaldsonville 62, Berwick 18
Hahnville 72, East St. John 60
Jesuit 48, John Curtis Christian 43
Madison Prep 53, Brother Martin 48
Morris Jeff 83, Sarah Reed 74
Newman 69, Parkview Baptist 58
Northlake Christian 62, Pope John Paul II 61
Ponchatoula 61, Northshore 57
Riverdale 49, John Ehret 42
Slidell 77, Covington 49
St. Augustine 72, Archbishop Rummel 53
St. Helena 58, Pine 45
White Castle 78, West St. John 41

Girls
Albany 70, Archbishop Hannan 26
Amite 80, Varnado 11
Doyle 84, St. Thomas Aquinas 55
Hahnville 61, East St. John 53
H.L. Bourgeois 46, Destrehan 33
Ponchatoula 59, Northshore 35
Riverside Academy 59, Crescent City Christian 48
St. James 39, E.D. White Catholic 37
St. Scholastica 53, Salmen 47