LAKE CHARLES — Scotlandville achieved extra throughout its Division I state runner-up season than many individuals outdoors the basketball program might need thought attainable.
That was the sensation the Hornets had as they left the ground Saturday following a 47-44 loss to St. Augustine at Burton Coliseum.
That they had an opportunity on the finish to tie the rating with a 3-pointer that missed. And by some measure, which may have been greater than what could possibly be anticipated from a crew that misplaced six seniors — together with the Louisiana state participant of the yr from final season — from a squad that had gained the final 4 Division I state championships.
“Everyone within the state was saying we had been accomplished,” mentioned Scotlandville senior Zaheem Jackson, who had 15 factors and 15 rebounds within the championship sport. “We weren’t going to have what it takes to be again right here; we weren’t going to have a profitable season. So it’s a giant accomplishment as a crew to point out that we labored arduous by way of the entire season to return again to this example proper right here.
“Regardless that we didn’t pull out the victory, I really feel fairly good,” Jackson mentioned. “We bought an opportunity to stay collectively and bond as a crew and present others that we are able to actually do something.”
Scotlandville (29-4) led by 9 factors within the second quarter and by seven factors early within the third.
Junior guard Rayvon Smith made three 3-pointers within the first half, his second one placing the Hornets forward 21-12 within the second quarter — their largest lead for the sport. Smith made one other 3-pointer after St. Augustine tied the rating late within the first half. Smith completed with 11 factors.
St. Augustine (29-7) surged forward within the quarter. With a deeper bench rotation than Scotlandville, which saved the identical 5 gamers on the ground for your complete sport, St. Augustine took command within the second half.
St. Augustine deliberate to play stress protection from the beginning, figuring that might put on down the weary Hornets.
“I didn’t know when that was going to swing the rating,” mentioned first-year St. Augustine coach Gerald Lewis, whose crew went from down seven to up 4 on the finish of a 13-2 run within the third quarter. “I felt like we had extra legs and extra vitality than the 5 guys they need to play. That was our sport plan.”
Scotlandville made two baskets within the second quarter.
“We missed too many layups,” mentioned Scotlandville coach Carlos Pattern, whose crew has performed in 12 consecutive state championship video games and gained seven of them. “We didn’t get within the circulation. We had been too particular person as an alternative of crew (oriented), and that induced us to interrupt down offensively. We didn’t execute in addition to we wanted to.”
The missed 3-pointer on the finish got here after Scotlandville inbounded the ball from close to midcourt with 10.3 seconds to play. St. Augustine junior Chris Landers got here down with the rebound and bought fouled with 1.4 seconds to play.
Though Landers missed the entrance finish of a one-and-one, Scotlandville couldn’t get off a shot in time.
Sophomore ahead C’Zavian Teasett had eight factors and 9 rebounds for Scotlandville. Senior guard Emareyon McDonald made a 3-pointer within the first half and completed with seven factors.
“The youngsters have noting to be ashamed about,” Pattern mentioned. “While you lose six seniors the way in which we did, all people simply wrote us off this yr. No person anticipated us to be a .500 crew. To get right here, that’s a win in itself.”
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