Panthers end district losing streak

The Berwick Panthers did something Tuesday that hadn’t been done in a long time: win a district ball game.
Berwick knocked off Franklin, 53-48, to earn its first district game of the season.
Berwick coach Sean Comeaux said he was unsure exactly how long it had been since the Panthers last won a district game. According to schedules on file on the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s website back through the 2010-11 season, no district wins were recorded during that time.
In Tuesday’s win, Berwick outscored Franklin, 19-10, in the fourth quarter to turn a 38-34 deficit into a victory.
Much of the Panthers’ scoring in the period came at the free throw line where the team converted 13 of 19 attempts, including nine of 14 attempts by Donald Tillman.
As a team, the Panthers finished the game 18 of 27 (66.6 percent) from the free throw line, an improvement in what the team had been, Comeaux said.
Early on, things started out rough for the Panthers as they fell behind, 15-6, after the first quarter.
However, they worked themselves back into the game in the second quarter with an 11-4 scoring advantage and trailed 19-17 at the break.
Franklin outscored Berwick, 19-11, in the third quarter.
“I thought we started slow with a bad first quarter,” Comeaux said. “After a few adjustments, the boys played hard and executed. We picked up our help-side defense in the second half and blocked out much better. We gave up way too many offensive rebounds and second change opportunities for Franklin to score. Franklin played hard all night and made it a great game. Both teams fought hard all game long.”
Berwick was led by Audwin Williams with 23 points, while Donald Tillman and Kenan Jones each scored 11 points, and Tysin Meads, Kobe Champagne, Siltan Span and Larenz Clark all scored two.
Berwick (10-7 overall) will return to action Friday when it travels to face Christian Life in a nondistrict contest, a matchup that Comeaux said would be “another tough road test for us.”
Morgan City upsets Ellender
The Morgan City Tigers pulled off an upset in District 7-4A action, topping Ellender Memorial, 63-61, in Houma Tuesday.
While Morgan City entered the contest ranked No. 33 in the latest unofficial Louisiana High School Athletic Association power rankings released Tuesday morning, Ellender was ranked No. 9.
“We focused on doing the little things and we went right at them,” Morgan City coach Brandon Harden said of the contest. “Our kids played great. They didn't get frustrated with the turnovers early on.”
Ellender took a 19-8 lead after the first quarter and led 34-22 at halftime.
“I just talked to them at halftime about staying aggressive,” Harden said. “You can't be intimated by their size."
Morgan City came back in the third quarter with a 21-12 scoring advantage to cut its deficit to 46-43 after three quarters.
In the fourth, the Tigers again held the upper hand with a 21-16 scoring advantage to secure the victory.
Morgan City had four players in double figures led by Jaylen Jones with 16. Others included Makye Richard with 15, Tywaun Walker with 11, Lloyd Singleton, 10; and Deondre Walker and Brady Fryou with six points each.
Morgan City (11-6 overall, 1-0 in district) will return to action Friday when it hosts South Terrebonne in District 7-4A action.
Lafayette Christian
too much for CCHS
Lafayette Christian topped Central Catholic, 68-42, in a matchup of District 7-1A unbeaten in Morgan City Tuesday.
The visiting Knights took a 22-5 lead after the first quarter, and while the Eagles cut their deficit to 32-23 by halftime, Lafayette Christian came out of halftime with another 22-5 scoring advantage in the third quarter to take a 54-28 lead after three quarters.
Jalen Johnson led Central Catholic with 15 points, while Samarick Paul contributed 14 and Charlie Solar scored six.
Tuesday’s loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Eagles (7-9, 4-1).
In junior varsity action, Central Catholic fell, 40-37.
Tanner Wiggins and Elijah Swan each scored 13 points for the Eagles.
Central Catholic will return to action Friday when it travels to face Ellender in a varsity-only contest set for a 6:30 p.m. tip.
Patterson tops Centerville
Patterson High School used a big second quarter to defeat the Centerville Bulldogs, 67-40, in nondistrict action in Centerville Tuesday.
While Patterson trailed 11-10 entering the second quarter, the Lumberjacks used a 27-13 second quarter scoring advantage to take a 37-24 lead into halftime.
Patterson extended its lead to 53-33 after three quarters.
Tyric Garrett was one of three Patterson players in double figures with 15 points, while Malik Garrett scored 13 and Taylan Grogan, 11.
Other scorers for Patterson included DJ Jones, nine; Jordan Butler, seven; BJ Ramagos, four; Khyri Harris, three; and Kenneth Washington and Mykel Jones, one each.
Patterson (10-4) will return to action Friday when it opens District 9-3A play against Donaldsonville. Junior varsity boys’ action is set for 5 p.m., while the varsity boys’ contest begins at approximately 7 p.m.