Eunice snares thriller sweep

PINE PRAIRIE – The Eunice High Bobcats stormed back from a 40-33 deficit in the fourth quarter to capture an exciting 53-49 win over Pine Prairie in District 5-3A action here Friday at the Panther gym.
The victory gives Coach Chad Andrepont’s Bobcats an overall record of 17-8 and a district mark of 4-1. The Panthers fell to 11-6 overall and to 2-3 in 5-3A play.
The Bobcats had a decent start against the Panthers, leading 17-14 after the first quarter, with Malik Poullard leading the way with five points.
But the Bobcats struggled with turnovers in the second quarter, allowing the Panthers to take 26-22 lead into halftime with a 12-5 scoring edge.
The Bobcats used defense to stay with the Panthers in the third quarter.
The Panthers had a 12-11 scoring edge to enjoy a 38-33 lead heading into the final quarter. The fourth quarter did not start well for the Cats as Dylan Doucet drove for a field goal to extend the Panthers’ lead to 40-33 with 7:15 left in the game.
The Cats responded with field goals by Kevin Williams and Mitchell Cormier to cut the lead to 40-37. Douglas Fontenot hit a jumper extend the Panther lead to 42-37 with six minutes left on the clock.
Williams cut into the Panther lead at the 5:10 mark by hitting a field goal beyond the 3-point arc to cut the lead to 42-40.
Darnell Durgin came back with field gaol for the Panthers, but Malik Poullard hit his second three-point field goal of the night to cut the lead to 44-43 at the 4:40 mark.
Cormier converted a pass from Williams into a field goal on the next possession to give the Bobcats a 45-44 lead.
Following a turnover, Williams would convert a driving layup to extend the Eunice lead to 47-44.
After a basket by the Panthers’ Sylus Carson, Deshawn Vigers tipped in his own missed shot to make it 49-46 with 2:07 left. But the Panthers’ Vontreis Thomas hit a three-pointer for the tie. With less than two minutes remaining, Poullard would hit a field goal for a 51-49 lead.
Each team turned the ball over twice in four consecutive possessions, but Eunice’s Travis Godfrey would have a blocked shot with just seconds left to protect the 51-49 lead and Poullard would sink two free throws to seal the victory.
Williams led a balanced Bobcat offense with 14 points. Poullard added 12 and Cormier had eight for the Cats. Brandon Ndubueze had six and Godfrey had five.
Lady Bobcats 45, Lady Panthers 43
The Eunice High Lady Bobcats claimed a thrilling come-from behind win here Friday evening over the Pine Prairie High Lady Panthers.
The Lady Bobcats trailed the Lady Panthers by a 24-20 margin at the half. The Lady Cats fought back in the third quarter to close the gap to 30-29 by the end of the quarter.
The Eunice High girls took the lead in the first minute of the fourth quarter as Shay Vigers converted two free throws after being fouled on a drive to the basket. The Lady Cats enjoyed their 31-30 lead only briefly, however.
Pine Prairie’s Sarah Vidrine responded with three field goals overt the next minute to give the Lady Panthers a 36-31 advantage with 6:15 left in the game.
A steal and a bucket by Tori Bordelon with 5:57 left put the Lady Panthers on top by a 38-31 margin. A free throw seconds later put Pine Prairie up 39-31.
But the Lady Cats didn’t quit, Aisha Ledet nailed a three-point goal to cut the lead to 39-34 with five minutes remaining. Brandy Manuel drove for a basket to make it 41-34 at the 4:44 mark.
Eunice High’s Stacie White sank two free throws with 3:58 left to cut the lead to 41-36, then hit a three-point goal to close the gap to 41-39 with 3:12 remaining.
After two missed free throws by the Lady Panthers, the Lady Cats tied the game at 41-41 on a Shania Malveaux drive to the basket.
After a turnover by the Lady Panthers, the Lady Cats took the lead as White found an attacking Vigers with a pass that resulted in a field goal and a 43-41 lead.
Vidrine hit two free throws after fouled to make it 43-43 with 30.2 seconds left in the game. White made missed a shot on the Eunice possession, but Vigers claimed the rebound and put the ball in the basket for a 45-43 lead with 12 seconds left. Pine Prairie lost possession when Ledet rebounded a missed shot in the final seconds.
The District 5-3A win improved the Lady Bobcats’ overall record to 13-10 and their district mark to 6-1.
Vigers led the scoring for the Lady Cats with 17 points, with White adding 13. Malveaux had nine and Ledet had six. Vidrine led the Lady Panthers with 20 points. Manuel added 10.