Warriors fall at Country Day

Wed. February 08, 2012 at 12:07 p.m. | By Kelly McElroy/Staff Writer

METAIRIE — The Houma Christian boys basketball team may have prepared hard for the front-court height and length of Country Day in a key District 10-1A rematch on Tuesday night.

But once the game started, it barely showed.

The Cajuns forced the much shorter Warriors into tough shot after tough shot and hit the boards hard in a 53-38 victory on Patrick Court at Lupin Gymnasium.

No. 10 Country Day beat Houma Christian 57-40 on Jan. 17 in Houma and now, at 15-12 and 7-0 in league play, is one district win away from clinching at least a share of the title and two wins away from claiming it outright.

The Cajuns go 6-foot-7, 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-4 across their front court and got numerous easy baskets by executing their half-court sets as the Warriors struggled with the ball.

"The length is always a factor, but I felt there was never any continuity to our offense. The kids never settled down to see what was open," Warriors coach Freddie Frye said. "We had a lot of opportunities, and we missed (post player) Shane (Thompson) on the block. We just did not look for him. We did a good job of preparing the kids for the things we needed to do. We just did not execute what we worked on. Everything we did was rushed, rushed, rushed, rushed."

Country Day led 11-8 after a tight first quarter and 20-17 at halftime on the strength of a base-line jumper from Michael Mann at the final buzzer of the second quarter.

The Cajuns pulled away for the victory by outscoring the Warriors (11-9, 6-2 in district) 23-10 in the third quarter for a 43-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

"We are starting to play well," Country Day coach Mike McGuire said. "Some different people are stepping up and that helps us. We match up well with them with our size. We aren't real quick, but we are long and hope to get rebounds and second shots. I thought we handled the press well, and held them to 38 (points). That's how you win."

Center Scott Plaisance, son of Nicholls State women's basketball coach Dobee Plaisance, led the Cajuns with 19 points and added a fourth-quarter dunk. He was followed in scoring by Travis Avery with 10 points and Mann with nine.

"I credit them. They are a good team, a smart team," Coach Frye said. "They played within their system. Our kids simply did not do what we asked them to do."

Nate Frye, who got into foul trouble in the third quarter and had to sit, led the Warriors with 13 points, Shamar Charles had eight points and Kemon Sims has seven.

ST. CHARLES CATHOLIC 54, ST. JAMES 46 (BOYS)

At LaPlace, the Wildcats fell to 13-14 overall and 1-8 in District 7-3A play and got 19 points from Owen Mumphrey.

ST. JAMES 67, ST. CHARLES CATHOLIC 32 (GIRLS)

At LaPlace, Korielle Tucker scored 22 points and Dasha Adams added 10 points in the Lady Wildcats (23-5 overall, 9-0 in district) victory.

PORT ALLEN 50, E.D. WHITE CATHOLIC 42 (BOYS)

At Port Allen, the Cardinals fell to 16-8 overall and 4-5 in 7-3A play, getting 11 points from Ja'Dante' Frye in the loss.

E.D. WHITE CATHOLIC 59, PORT ALLEN 30 (GIRLS)

At Port Allen, the Lady Cardinals improved to 13-12 overall and 6-3 in District 7-3A behind 22 points from Genna Larose, 15 points from Jordan Gros and 12 points from Paige Morvant.

E.D. White led 9-5 after the first quarter, 21-19 at halftime and 43-21 at the end of the third quarter.

--Compiled by sports writers Chris Singleton and Kelly McElroy.