Prep Roundup: Vikings upend Gents

The struggles continued for the Crowley Gents Thursday in their road contest against Opelousas Catholic.
The Vikings forced the Gents into 30 turnovers and fended off a late rally to slip away with a 50-44 victory.
“We pretty much gave the game away from turning the ball over,” said CHS coach Jason Lewis, whose team dipped to 0-5 on the season with the loss. “The points we gave up off those turnovers, and we lose by single digits...that’s what cost us the game.
“And that’s been our problem so far. We have not handled the ball well at all, we’ve turned it over a lot in each game, so until we can control that and gain confidence in handling the ball, it will continue to be a struggle.”
The Gents also struggled offensively, especially in the second quarter where they were outscored 12-4.
The Vikings broke open a tight game with a 10-2 run to begin the frame behind six points from Dontre Henry.
The Gents aided in the run by committing 11 turnovers in the frame and the Vikings took a 27-17 lead into the break.
“You know, we’re pretty young and inexperienced,” said Lewis, who returns no starters from last season and only three players who spot played in 2020. “There were times where we were there (at the rim) and just didn’t finish.
“Those lights got really bright and until we can mature, we’re going to take those bumps and bruises.”
The Gents chipped away in the third quarter and trimmed the deficit to four (30-26) midway through the frame before Mark Collins hit a jumper in the lane and followed with a 3-pointer to push the lead back to nine (37-28).
The Gents got back-to-back buckets from Cam’Ron Scott and Chris George down the stretch in the fourth quarter to get back within four (46-42) but they turned the ball over twice in the final two minutes and missed two more shots in the paint as time ran out.
Chris Brown paced the Vikings with 14 points. Henry and Collins also scored in double figures with 10 points each.
James Collins and Zuri Poullard were the leaders for the Gents with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
“Zuri, when he comes to play, he’s probably one of our better players with the ball in his hands,” said Lewis. “And Collins does a good job in the lane. He’s a big body, creates space and he’s good with rebounds and putbacks.”
Travonta Ben followed with six points, Scott added four and Trevon Flugence had three. Omar Butler and Chris George rounded out the offense with two points each.
Dogs hold off Pirates
IOTA - The Iota Bulldogs shot just over 50 percent from the free throw line but they made 13 freebies down the stretch when they needed them the most to hold on for a 53-42 victory over Kaplan Thursday.
The Bulldogs took a slim 14-12 lead at the break and had a four-point cushion (29-25) after three quarters.
Chase Lalonde poured in 11 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter to help the Bulldogs outscored the Pirates 24-17 over the final eight minutes.
Payton DarDar added six of his 12 points in the final frame and Ashton Andrepont added 10 points.
In addition to the leaders, Andrew Thibodeaux scored seven points in the victory, Luke Duhon added two and Kolton Morgan finished with one.
Rebels top Knights
LONGVILLE - Maddox Hanks erupted for 32 points Thursday to help lead the Midland Rebels to a 66-52 victory over South Beauregard in the opening round of the Knights Tournament.
Hanks poured in nine points in each of the first two quarters to help the Rebels bolt out to a 36-18 advantage at the break.
The senior guard added 12 more points in the third quarter and the lead ballooned to 23 (54-31).
The Knights rallied in the final frame and outscored the Rebels 22-12.
Anthony Blunt and Kayden Bourque followed Hanks with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
J’Stan Keller added six points, Zach Baker had five and Gabe Vincent rounded out the Rebels’ offense with two.
Lady Dogs win big
IOTA - Avery Young and Leah Hebert combined for 41 points Thursday to help lead the Iota Lady Bulldogs to a 60-34 victory over the Kaplan Lady Pirates.
Young scored 13 points and Hebert added 12 in the first quarter to help the hosts jump out to a 29-5 lead and Iota never looked back from there.
Young led all scorers on the night with 24 points. She also added seven assists, seven steals and five rebounds.
Hebert knocked down five shots from beyond the arc and finished with 17 points. She also dished out five assists and pulled down five rebounds.
Sage Wimberly added eight points and six rebounds and Ella Jabusch had five points and five boards.
Brinna Hebert and Laiken Vige rounded out Iota’s offense with two points each.
Lady Rebels fall short
LONGVILLE - The Midland Lady Rebels made a run in the second half, but it was too little, too late in a 46-42 setback to Class 5A Airline Thursday in the opening round of the South Beauregard Knights Tournament.
The Lady Vikings used a 14-3 run in the first quarter to bolt out to a 32-20 advantage at the break.
The Lady Rebels trimmed the lead to 10 (38-28) in the third quarter and outscored the Lady Vikings 14-8 in the final frame.
Caitlyn Boudreaux scored 11 of her game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter.
Marlie Boudreaux added nine points in the loss, Gracie Miller scored six, Mackenzie Olier had five and Holi Meyer finished with two.