Staff Report

HOUMA — Morgan City picked up a huge District 8-4A victory with a 62-59 win on the road against Ellender Memorial Friday.

Morgan City took a 10-8 lead after one period of play and went into half with a slim 19-17 lead.

The Tigers held a 35-28 lead after three quarters before Ellender outscored the Tigers 27-20 in the fourth to force overtime.

In that final period, Morgan City coach Jeremy Whittington said Ellender hit some “tremendous” shots.

“They hit two three-pointers where guys were extended fully in their face,” Whittington said. “They were fade-a-way threes that they had to hit to bring that game where it was.”

While he said his squad didn’t adjust well to Ellender’s defense in the fourth quarter, they weren’t fazed by the overtime period.

“At no time did our kids panic,” he said.

Morgan City outscored Ellender 7-4 in the overtime period for the final.

Morgan City got balanced scoring in the victory as the squad placed three players in double figures and nearly had five reach the threshold.

Jaylen Jones and Malcolm Watkins both scored 16 points, while Buddy Humphrey scored 12. Both Watkins’ and Humphrey’s point totals were career highs.

Whittington was complementary of both Jones, who he said played the varsity game with an injury that he suffered during the junior varsity contest, and Watkins.

Both Tyrin Watts, who has been the Tigers’ biggest offensive threat all year, and Eric Walker scored nine points for the Tigers.

Watts was plagued by foul trouble early on but others were able to keep Morgan City in it.

Whittington said if the Tigers continue to play as physical as they have in practice and during the Ellender game, they could make some noise in district.

“That's going to make a big difference," Whittington said. "You go to Vandebilt, you're not going to get the calls you expect. You go to Ellender, it's hard to beat Ellender at Ellender. It takes what we had, some leadership, some toughness, everybody stepping up, and if we continue to get that, I think that we’re going to surprise some people in our district that think Vandebilt’s just supposed to take this (district title) and walk away with it,” he said.

The Tigers (11-7, 1-0 in District 8-4A play) will continue district play Tuesday when they host South Terrebonne. Junior varsity boys’ action is set for a 5 p.m. start with boys’ varsity play set for a 7 p.m. start, following the girls’ varsity contest.

Berwick falls at Kaplan

The Berwick Panthers fell to Kaplan, 62-40, on the road Friday.

Kaplan led 17-10 at the end of the first-quarter and 27-16 at the half, following a three-pointer at the end of the second quarter by Kaplan.

Kaplan extended its lead to 41-25 after three quarters.

Palmer Cox led Berwick with 10 points, while Chaz Russo and Brandon Naverro each added seven.

Berwick (6-12 overall, 0-4 in District 9-3A play) will continue District 9-3A play at home Tuesday when it hosts Abbeville.

Boys’ varsity action is set for a 7 p.m. start.