Holiday hoops

PRAIRIE RHONDE -- Both the Ville Platte High Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs returned to action Wednesday and Thursday as they participated in the Northwest High Holiday Tournament.
The Bulldogs entered this week’s tourney play with an overall record of 12-1 and looked to extend their nine game win streak.
Meanwhile the Lady Bulldogs were hoping to snap a three game losing streak and bring their 5-7 record even with a couple of wins in the tournament.
Things did not start out quite the way the Lady Bulldogs would have liked, as they let a three-point first quarter advantage slip away in a 45-35 loss to the Westgate Lady Tigers.
Ville Platte began the Wednesday afternoon game in perfect form opening up a 10-4 lead after 4:48 had gone by in the first quarter. That margin remained when Kayden Coward hit a bucket at the buzzer to give Ville Platte a 15-9 lead.
The Lady Bulldogs continued to create pressure and turnovers in the second quarter, leading to easy baskets. By the time the half had closed, Ville Platte led 22-17.
As well as the Lady Bulldogs had played in the first half, the third quarter belonged to Westgate. Using their size and a suffocating defense, the Lady Tigers were able to hold Ville Platte to three points in the period and take a 34-25 lead into the final period.
The Lady Bulldogs tried to crawl back into the game, but Westgate would not allow any momentum back the other way. In the end Ville Platte allowed too many easy buckets to mount a comeback.
In the game, Coward had 14 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs.
Wednesday night’s boy’s action saw the Bulldogs and the host team Northwest High collide in an action packed first round game. Ville Platte needed every part of their game, as they eased past the Raiders 73-69.
An exciting first quarter began with the Raiders jumping out to a 7-4 lead in the first 2:50. The Bulldogs gathered themselves back up and made a 12-8 run over the final minutes of the period to take a 16-15 lead heading into the second quarter.
Both Ville Platte and Northwest were on point both offensively and defensively in the second quarter, as the two teams exchanged blows like two heavyweight prize fighters. With the lead switching back and forth, a five point Bulldog advantage with 1:49 left in the half evaporated down to two points, 40-38, by the time the two teams headed into the locker room.
Ville Platte opened the third quarter with eight straight points, including two three-point buckets, to stretch their advantage to 10 points. However, Northwest was able to climb back into the game and cut the lead back down to three, 58-55, with the close of the third quarter.
It was all about making free throws in the fourth quarter, as both teams were already in the bonus as the period began. Luckily for Ville Platte, the Raiders could not find a way to capitalize on the poor shooting from the charity stripe by the Bulldogs as they went 7 for 18 down the stretch.
Tyler Jones scored 20 points to lead Ville Platte and Ernest Roberts pitched in 17 points.
Both Ville Platte teams were scheduled to play on Friday. The Gazette will have final results of the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldog’s remaining games in Thursday’s edition.