REPLAY: Undefeated Ponchatoula pitches second quarter shutout in convincing win over Mount Carmel

PONCHATOULA – When you shutout a team in a quarter of play, it will typically lead to good things.

A terrific defensive performance in the second quarter by Ponchatoula led to a 50-29 victory over Mount Carmel Academy in a matchup of two teams who top their respective class power rankings. You can watch the full game replay above from CrescentCitySports.com.

Ponchatoula is No. 1 in the Class 5A power rankings while Mount Carmel is first in the Division I power rankings.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first quarter.

LSU signee Amoura Graves scored five points in the opening quarter for Ponchatoula while Taylor Wilkins scored six for the Cubs.

Then came the dominant, decisive second quarter as Ponchatoula outscored Mount Carmel 14-0 to take a 21-6 by halftime. Jada Clark and Jaylee Womack each scored five points in the second quarter for the Green Wave.

The third quarter was evenly played, with Ponchatoula establishing a 16-15 edge to take a 37-21 lead going to the fourth quarter. Womack scored six points in the quarter for the Green Wave.

Womack added six points in the final quarter for the Green Wave and led Ponchatoula with 17 points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists.

Graves finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal. Presley Walls added seven points and seven rebounds.

“Once we got into the rhythm of the defense and were able to get some stops, things started our way and we feed off our defense a lot for our offense,” Ponchatoula coach Patricia Landaiche said. “We missed four layups before we even scored. That was discouraging. We were doubling up top. That was our strategy, to try to take it out of Wilkins’ hands.”

Wilkins led Mount Carmel with 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal but no one else scored more than five points for the Cubs.

“At playoff time, you want to be battle tested,” Thomatis said. “What you have to left to work on, what you’re doing well, we saw a lot of that tonight. It was definitely worth the trip. After the first quarter, they went into the box-and-one and made it tough on Taylor and Amanda Strassel got into some foul trouble which hurt us a little bit, too!”

The Wave pressured Mount Carmel into 17 turnovers and controlled the boards 37-27.

Ponchatoula (26-0) returns to action in District 6-5A play Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Slidell while Mount Carmel (21-5) returns to play Tuesday at Dominican in 9-5A play.

“Dominican tomorrow will be another test,” Thomatis said. “The rivalry, being at Dominican will be somewhat of a test for us. The competition tonight will not hurt our power ranking.”

“Our goal is to win the state championship,” Landeche said. “We’ve got to play better than we did tonight. We have to find a way to score.”

FINAL
MCA 6 0 15 8 — 29
PON 7 14 16 13 — 50

Scoring:

MCA—Taylor Wilkins 18, Miranda Strassel 5, Jessica Runnels 4, Bailey Schexnaildre 2

PON—Jaylee Womack 17, Amoura Graves 13, Presley Walls 7, Taylor Jackson 6, Jada Clark 5. Abby Faust 2

Rebounds: Ponchatoula 37, Mount Carmel 27

Assists: Ponchatoula 8, Mount Carmel 7

Turnovers: Ponchatoula 11, Mount Carmel 17

Area Prep Basketball Results from Monday, Feb. 8

Boys

Brusly 83, Bogalusa 43

Crescent City Christian 79, South Plaquemines 44

Douglass 64, Abramson Sci Academy 57

Doyle 79, French Settlement 62

East Jefferson 55, John Ehret 42

Franklinton 75, Pine 26

Helen Cox 54, Belle Chasse 51

Mt. Hermon 65, Maurepas 46

Newman 77, Pearl River 42

Northlake Christian 87, Springfield 54

Riverside Academy 61, John Curtis Christian 58

Slidell 62, Ponchatoula 55

St. Amant 89, Covington 51

St. Thomas Aquinas 55, Pope John Paul II 50

Girls

Belle Chasse 58, Helen Cox 9

Chalmette 62, Riverdale 26

Covington 43, Archbishop Hannan 41

De La Salle 45, Kenner Discovery 28

Karr 67, Academy of Our Lady 19

Mandeville 47, Slidell 40

McMain 40, Abramson Sci Academy 19

Ponchatoula 50, Mount Carmel Academy 29

Newman 57, Fisher 21

Springfield 54, Northlake Christian 31

St. Thomas Aquinas 50, Pope John Paul II 23

Walker 58, St. Helena 42

West Jefferson 39, Grace King 16