Feeling the sting

RAYVILLE – There was no doubt that it would be a tough task for the Ville Platte Bulldogs to come into a hostile environment and knock out the best team in the state in Class 2A. In fact, Ville Platte’s opponent, the Rayville Hornets, were considered by many to be the best team in the state regardless of class.
Despite their best efforts, Ville Platte was still not prepared for the athleticism and fast pace brought by Rayville, as they fell 104-55 Tuesday night.
“They (Rayville) are one of the best teams I have ever come across,” Ville Platte head coach Tommy Jones stated after the game. “They shoot the ball well, they defend well, and they can out jump just about anybody. In my opinion, they are the best team in the state, hands down, in the entire state. I was proud of our effort the entire game. It is just hard to beat a team with that much talent.”
Ville Platte finished the season with an overall record of 17-12 and the District 6-2A runner-up title.
It was obvious from the start of the game that the Hornets could beat you from anywhere on the court. Ville Platte may have controlled the opening tip but was not able to control much else. After a Jamal Byers miss, Rayville took the ball down the floor and Rashad Naylor promptly knocked down a three-point attempt.
Ville Platte gave the ball up again, allowing Naylor to crank it up from beyond the arc once again. The Bulldogs broke the Hornet full court press and got it down on the block to Davondez Doucet who put it up off the glass for Ville Platte’s first points of the game.
Rayville took advantage of some early Bulldog turnovers and answered with four quick points to go up 10-2 at the 4:52 mark.
On the ensuing possession, Ville Platte’s Terrian Roy took it strong to the rim, but was fouled giving him two free throw attempts. Roy connected on one of two foul shots making the score 10-3 in favor of the Hornets.
Twenty seconds later, Naylor sliced the net for his third three pointer of the quarter. Tyler Jones answered with a two point basket of his own for the Bulldogs. The two teams exchanged baskets over the next 1:30. Rayville finished the first quarter on a 5-1 run to take a 24-10 lead as the period came to a close.
“A lot of our guys are younger,” commented Jones. “This was a big game against the No. 1 team. You could tell that they were a little nervous at the start. We just turned the ball over too much tonight.”
Ville Platte’s Tayvon Wilson opened the second quarter with a bucket from beyond the arc. However, the Hornets did most of the damage during the rest of the period. After Wilson’s long distance shot, Rayville busted loose for eight straight points, moving their lead to 32-13 with 5:30 left in the period.
The Bulldogs put up the next four points on baskets by Jamal Byers and Brandon Veazie. The Hornets returned the favor, scoring four points of their own to regain the 19 point advantage. Tyler Jones stroked a three pointer from the left side of the floor to bring the score back down to 36-20 at the 3:50 mark.
From that point on, it was all Hornets. Rayville took complete command of the game, running off 16 of the next 20 points in the period to hold a 52-24 lead heading into the locker room.
Ville Platte came out of half time with a renewed energy and fight. Nevertheless, it seemed that every time that the Bulldogs added to their score, the Hornets were fast breaking the other way and doubling the Ville Platte output.
At the 3:48 mark of the third quarter, Rayville had built up a 35 point lead, 68-32. Over the final three minutes of the period, the Hornets continued to get easy buckets, running and gunning their way to an 81-36 lead by the time the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter.
The final quarter was used as mop up duty for both teams’ benches. Ville Platte was able to get in a number of younger players during the period. Rayville broke the century mark with 1:13 left to go in the game, the fourth time they have done so in the last five games.
Byers led all Bulldog scorers with 10 points. Tyran Jones and Jalen Edwards each chipped in nine points for Ville Platte in the loss.
“The seniors have been here for four years and have been through a lot,” said Jones. “They have shown tremendous leadership and we are definitely going to miss what they brought day in and day out. Now it is time for the younger guys to step it up.”