Patterson falls; snaps streak

The Patterson Lumberjacks fell for the first time in nearly two years in district play as Donaldsonville edged them in Patterson’s District 9-3A opener Saturday, 44-43.
The loss snapped a 25-game district winning streak for the Lumberjacks, who hadn’t lost a game since 59-46 defeat at E.D. White on Feb. 14, 2011.
“It was a tough loss,” Patterson head coach Ryan Taylor said today. “The guys took pride in continuing the streak. It just didn’t happen. All we can do is try to start a new one.”
The district winning streak was the second local one in less than a week that was snapped as Central Catholic’s 39-game boys’ winning streak against district competition came to an end Monday with a 93-61 loss at district and Class 1A newcomer Lafayette Christian.
As for Saturday’s game, pushed back a day to avoid hazardous road conditions brought on by cold weather, Taylor said, “This was a hard, physical game that could have gone either way. We did not get the breaks we needed to come out on top.”
While Patterson took a 13-3 advantage after the first quarter and led 22-12 at halftime, Donaldsonville rallied in the third quarter to tie the game at 30 after three quarters.
Donaldsonville outscored Patterson 14-13 in the fourth quarter for the one-point win.
“Both teams are pretty equal, other than their height,” Taylor said. “We did not let it (affect) us that much, but it bothered us a little in the (third) quarter with their press. I was very proud of my guys’ effort and their ability to fight through some key moments in the game.”
Nehemiah Augustus led Patterson with 10 points, while other top contributors included Jedrick Gunner, nine points; Dontrell Benjamin, seven; Malik Garrett, six; and Taylan Grogan and Kenneth Washington, four apiece.
Saturday’s loss was just the fourth this season for the Lumberjacks, 10-4. Patterson has fallen by a combined 10 points in all four defeats, including a double-overtime loss to New Iberia and an overtime loss to Catholic High-Baton Rouge.
Ironically, E.D. White, who along with Donaldsonville, was added to Patterson’s district this season, is the Lumberjacks’ next opponent as Patterson is scheduled to make the trip to Thibodaux Thursday.
Donaldsonville beats
Lumberjills
The Patterson Lumberjills’ three-game winning streak came to an end Saturday as the squad fell 51-24 at Donaldsonville.
No individual statistics were available.
Patterson (8-13 overall, 2-1 in district play) will return to action Thursday when it travels to face E.D. White in a 6 p.m. contest.