Yellow Jackets sting Bobcats

The Eunice High Bobcats fought to the end, but they fell just short in a 66-62 loss to the Iowa High Yellow Jackets in a bi-district 3A state playoff game played Friday night at the Bobcat gym.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair between the teams. Iowa’s Isiah Richard nailed a three-point shot in the first minute to give his team a 3-0 lead. The Bobcats’ Malik Poullard responded with his own three to tie the game 3-3.
The Cats took a 6-5 lead on a three-pointer by Kevin Williams and extended their lead to 11-5 with five minutes left in the quarter. The Jackets came back, though, to pull ahead 17-15 before Williams hit a field goal in the final minute to tie the game at the end of the quarter.
The Bobcats built a 28-22 lead with 3:48 in the second quarter on three-point shots by Malik Poullard and Terreyll Poullard. But the Yellow Jackets managed to cut the lead to 30-29.
The Bobcats opened the third quarter with a scoring drive down the lane by Travis Godfrey to put the Cats up 32-29. But the Yellow Jackets went on a 13-7 run over the final six minutes of the third quarter to take a 42-37 and they got another field goal from Jarquise Frank for a 44-37 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Bobcats cut into the lead early in the fourth with a three-pointer by Malik Poullard, a field goal by Georrein Dupre, and a three-point field goal by Godfrey to cut the lead to 51-45 with 5:55 left in the game.
Iowa responded with field goals by Andre Sam and Kaden Jones, along with two field goals by Frank to extend their lead to 57-47 with just over four minutes to play.
The Cats rallied with a Godfrey field goal and a slam dunk on a breakaway by Deshawn Vigers to cut the lead to 57-51. The Cats kept hustling, keeping the pressure on Iowa over the final minutes.
Godfrey hit a three, Williams made two free throws, and Dupre added a field goal to pull the Cats within two points at 64-62 with 17 seconds remaining. But Iowa’s Frank hit two free throws in the final seconds to seal the win for the Yellow Jackets.
Isiah Richard led the scoring for Iowa with 18 points. Frank added 13 and Sam had 11.
Godfrey and Malik Poullard shared top scoring honors for the Bobcats with 12 points apiece. Williams added 11 and Brandon Ndubueze finished with seven.
“We fought to the last second,” commented Bobcat head coach Chad Andrepont. “It wasn’t a surprise that we played hard because we have team of guys that don’t quit.”
The Bobcats finish the season with a 21-10 record. Iowa continues in the playoffs with a 19-10 mark.