Thibodaux avenges earlier loss to Tarpons

Tue. February 14, 2012 at 10:22 a.m. | By Perry Pitre/Sports Correspondent

Thibodaux's Trevon Cole (20) loses the ball during Monday's game against South Lafourche. (Photo by Abby Tabor/Staff)

One team is headed to the playoffs, and the other is done for the year, but one would have been hard-pressed to tell which was which Monday as Thibodaux avenged an earlier-season loss with a 59-48 win over South Lafourche in the District 7-5A closer for both teams.

South Lafourche, ranked 24th in the latest Louisiana High School Athletic Association rankings, looked like a playoff team for a few minutes, building up a quick 13-7 lead. But Deon Coleman and Tylor Jones (nine points) hit back-to-back buckets in the closing seconds to make it 13-12 at the end of one.

Turnovers were the story of the second quarter as neither team could hold on to the ball. South Lafourche had eight turnovers in eight minutes, hitting one field goal in a disastrous period. Thibodaux, after hitting a single free throw through the first six minutes, strung together three baskets to go up 20-17 at halftime.

"We played hard," Thibodaux coach Tony Clark said. "It's senior night, and we have two guys leaving, and everyone wanted to go out on a high note for the seniors."

The teams exchanged baskets and turnovers in the third quarter. Back to back jumpers from Darius Coleman (16 points) gave Thibodaux a six-point lead. Wilbert Rhodes (12 points) sank a jumper at the end of the period, cutting the Tiger lead to 33-28.

Thibodaux (11-15 overall, 5-7 in district) opened the final frame with three straight buckets from Danta Johnson, Coleman and Trevon Cole (14 points) making it 39-30. The teams exchanged baskets, but South Lafourche could never get closer than six at 54-48.

A personal and technical foul called on South Lafourche's Matthew Thibodaux, who led all scorers with 16 points, gave Thibodaux three points and the ball. Coleman sank two free throws for the final margin.

"It is what it is," South Lafourche coach Brian Callais said. "We didn't box out. We didn't rebound. We missed layups. We missed free throws. Give Thibodaux credit, we were getting one shot at the basket. We had no offensive rebounding. That's tough when you're not making your shots. This was a bad night shooting for us."

Rashad Smith had 11 for the Tigers. Treavon Evans had 13 for South Lafourche (16-11, 6-6 in district).

THIBODAUX 50, SOUTH LAFOURCHE 42 (GIRLS)

At Thibodaux, the Lady Tigers (9-16, 4-8 in district) finished out the season with an eight-point win over a listless South Lafourche (8-15, 4-8 in district) squad.

"We've never been able to play two halves in the same game," South Lafourche coach Terry Jones said. "So in the first half we played blasé, maybe we should have just sent a letter and said we're not coming."

Thibodaux led 14-13 at the end of one, but a 10-4 run in the second quarter gave the Lady Tigers a lead they'd never relinquish, going into the locker room up 27-22.

"I thought we played with a lot of energy though the whole game," Thibodaux coach Damon Robinson said. "We've played up and down all year, but they never quit. We've been in every game in the second round (of district play), we've had chances to win every game. We just didn't finish games. It wasn't until last week against Central (Lafourche) that we learned how to finish a game."

Thibodaux opened up their largest lead at 41-32 at the end of the third quarter.

WESTGATE 67, H.L. BOURGEOIS 57 (BOYS)

At New Iberia, H.L. Bourgeois couldn't overcome a slow start in its District 7-5A season finale.

The Braves were outscored 16-7 in the first quarter and trailed for the remainder of the game. Westgate (24-4, 10-2 in district) held a 28-22 halftime advantage and a 45-38 lead after three quarters.

The Tigers outscored H.L. Bourgeois (16-14, 8-4 in district) 24-18 in the fourth quarter for the 10-point win.

Marlin Bonvillain scored 20 points for the Braves, while Isaac Allridge finished with14.

WESTGATE 44, H.L. BOURGEOIS 28 (GIRLS)

At New Iberia, H.L. Bourgeois lost one of its better players in the second quarter in Monday's District 7-5A season finale.

Shannon Jones left the game after scoring six points in the second quarter and never returned.

The Lady Braves (11-15, 6-6) got 11 points from Kwanza Coleman.

Westgate improves to 22-9 overall and 10-2 in 7-5A play sharing the district title with Terrebonne.