Complete game helps VP past Welsh
By: RHETT MANUEL
Sports Editor
OAKDALE — The Ville Platte Bulldogs boys’ basketball team has a well-oiled recipe for success at this point of the regular season as the team prepares for district play.
Balanced play is the Bulldogs’ strong suit.
On any given night, one of three or four players can lead the Bulldogs’ in scoring and have a big game.
That wasn’t needed Saturday morning in Oakdale, as Ville Platte used a well-balanced offense that saw at least four players score nine points and none more than 13 on its way to a 60-44 win over the Welsh Grayhounds.
The Bulldogs, led by junior guard Sage Papillion’s 13 points, was consistent in all facets of the game.
They edged Welsh in the opening quarter by a 10-8 margin, but showed those early signs of its game plan.
Sophomore big man Montavis Seraille was the leader in the opening frame, scoring half of the team’s points.
Seraille finished the game with 12 points.
It was in the second quarter where the Bulldog attack truly found its stride, out scoring Welsh by a 17-8 margin on the way to 27-16 lead at the break.
Latelldrick Prejean gave Ville Platte a bench spark in the second period and scored six points to lead the Bulldogs in the second quarter.
Three-pointers by Jamarre Byers and Latravion Thomas added fuel to the fire to give Ville Platte a comfortable margin heading into the locker room.
Out of the break, Ville Platte didn’t let off of the gas as it held place with Welsh as both teams put up 16 in the third quarter.
As has been the case most of the year, Papilliion warmed up as the Bulldogs came back from the break.
The junior found his scoring knack with seven points, including a three-pointer, in the frame.
Thomas added another three in the quarter as well, as all nine of his points in the game came from beyond the arc.
In the final quarter, the Bulldogs used a well-balanced attack to put up 17 points and pull away.
No single Ville Platte hooper scored more than four points in the final quarter, with leading scorers Papillion and Seraille each putting up four in helping the Bulldogs outscore Welsh by five points to pull away.