PRAIRIE RHONDE – The Ville Platte High Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs took to the floor Tuesday seeking the opportunity to be crowned champions of the Northwest High Holiday Tournament. The tourney, which takes place every year between Christmas and New Year’s Day, attracts some of the best teams from around the state.
This year eight girls’ teams and 10 boys’ teams joined the competition for some big time basketball. Included in those teams were East Iberville, Lagrange, Lakeview, Northside, University, Rayne, St. Martinville and Glen Oaks, just to name a few.
In the first game for the Lady Bulldogs, turnovers and poor shooting from the field doomed Ville Platte from the second quarter on, as they fell to the St. Martinville Lady Tigers by the score of 49-39. With that loss, the Lady Bulldogs moved into the consolation bracket and was scheduled to play Lakeview at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs shook off some early momentum from the East Iberville Tigers and used a second half surge to pick up the 81-66 win. Ville Platte moved on to face host Northwest in the winner’s bracket on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
The Gazette will have full coverage of the rest of the tournament for Ville Platte in Sunday’s edition.
Here is a recap of both games.
Ville Platte (G)
vs. St. Martinville
From the tip, it was evident that St. Martinville had a distinct height advantage over Ville Platte. However, the Lady Bulldogs did not seem intimidated by that fact. After a quick two-point bucket from the Lady Tigers, Ville Platte’s Jakiah Thomas was able to stroke a three-point attempt from the corner to give the Lady Bulldogs the early 3-2 lead.
St. Martinville countered with the next three points to go up 5-3. But, Ville Platte answered with a bucket from Trinity Leday to tie the game up again. The Lady Tigers would pick up the final basket of the first quarter to lead 7-5.
The two teams exchanged buckets to begin the second quarter, with St. Martinville taking an 11-9 lead at the 5:07 mark, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game. The Lady Tigers increased that lead to 14-9 over the next 1:13.
A three-point play was completed by Ville Platte’s Makayla Ardoin to cut the St. Martinville advantage down to two points. However, The Lady Tigers were able to take advantage of some key Lady Bulldog miscues and missed offensive opportunities to open up a 26-15 lead heading into the locker room.
That nine-point advantage for St. Martinville stayed pretty much stagnate for the most part of the third quarter, with a few exceptions. Ville Platte did manage to get the lead cut down to six on an Ardoin basket with 1:23 left to go in the period. But, the Lady Tigers went on a 6-0 run down the stretch to put the score at 36-24 as the quarter ended.
The Lady Bulldogs looked as if they may give St. Martinville a run for it to begin the final period, scoring the first four points. Nevertheless, the Lady Tigers seemed to have an answer every time Ville Platte tried to make a game of it. In the end, the height advantage and some timely baskets paved the way for the St. Martinville win.
Ardoin had 14 points to lead all Lady Bulldogs in scoring.
Ville Platte (B)
vs. East Iberville
East Iberville made their presence known early in the game as they used a high intensity defense and a take-it-to-the rim offense to move out to a 4-0 in the first minute of the game.
Ville Platte was able to settle down and collect themselves, regaining the lead, 7-6, at the 5:02 mark. The two teams traded baskets the rest of the first quarter, with the Tigers owning a 14-12 lead as the period came to an end.
The game teetered back and forth to start the second quarter with neither team taking more than a two point lead in the opening four minutes of the period.
East Iberville gained a spark of momentum at the 3:28 mark, reeling off eight points in a row, including two three-pointers, to take a 27-20 lead. However, the Bulldogs answered with a resounding run of their own, knocking down 12 of the next 14 points to take over the lead going into halftime.
Coming out of the locker room, Ville Platte did not waste any time producing points. The Bulldogs busted the nets with 12 unanswered points to begin the third quarter and held a 44-29 lead at the 5:57 mark.
East Iberville was able to chip their way back into the game, outscoring Ville Platte 15-10 the rest of the period and found themselves only down by 10, 54-44, as the third quarter finished.
The final quarter saw the two teams exchange buckets in the first 1:30 of the period. The Bulldogs went on a small six point run with 6:08 left to go in the game to extend their lead to 66-51.
The Tigers gave a valiant effort down the stretch in the attempt to bring the score within reach, but Ville Platte would not let that occur. In the end it was the quickness of the Bulldog defense that allowed them to finish East Iberville off.
In the game, Tyran Jones collected 20 points, while Terrian Roy added 18 and Jamal Byers pitched in 16.