Just too much

LAKE CHARLES -- Sometimes your opponent has just too much of everything for you to overcome.
Such was the case in the LHSAA Class 2A semi-finals as Ville Platte Bulldogs were ousted from post-season competition in a 115-52 loss to the Rayville Hornets.
Ville Platte finishes the season with an overall record of 29-4 and the District 6-2A championship. This was the fourth ever trip to the Top 28 tournament for the Bulldogs in the school’s history.
After the game, Ville Platte head coach Tommy Jones was quietly retrospective about the contest itself and the season as a whole.
“We knew it would be tough for us coming into this game because we faced them last year in the playoffs,” stated Jones. “They are a very talented team. My biggest take from this game is that we did not quit from the opening tip to the final buzzer. We played hard the entire game and that is all that you can ask for.”
“These players have given us everything they have since the summer workouts,” Jones continued. “We have a lot of talent on this team and they are resilient. I think being here in the Top 28 for the first time will make them hungrier for more next season.”
Pressure defense and an advantage in quickness allowed Rayville to move out to a 9-0 run over the first two minutes of the contest. Ville Platte leveled off long enough to exchange baskets during the following 1:30.
The length of the Hornets continued to bother the Bulldogs’ effort to get the ball into the front court. Because of that, Rayville created a number of turnovers that led to nine of the next 11 points, giving the Hornets a 20-6 lead with 1:12 to go in the first quarter.
Ville Platte added five more points before the period ended. However, Rayville led 22-11 when the horn sounded to finish out the quarter.
“We told our guys to keep their head in the game and keep their composure,” said Jones. “We knew that they would start off fast and we would have to weather the storm.”
Weather the storm they did. As the second quarter began, the Bulldogs found a rhythm they did not have in the first quarter. At the 5:58 mark, Ville Platte’s Terrian Roy nailed a three-pointer from the right corner to cut the Hornet lead down to five, 25-20.
On their next possession, the Bulldogs got another three-point basket from Tye’Wuan Byers to slice the Rayville lead down to two and stir up the Ville Platte fans into a frenzy.
However, that frenzy would not last long. The Hornets turned up the volume on both sides of the floor and went on a 23-2 run over the next 3:39 to take a 48-25 lead.
The Bulldogs’ final basket of the first half came on a lay-up from Tyler Jones. Nevertheless, Rayville ended the second quarter owning a 56-27 advantage and took the Ville Platte crowd right out of the game.
“Their length and our lack of depth really hurt us, especially early on,” commented Jones. “Our players were really winded toward the latter part of the second quarter. I also think part of how the first half went came down to nerves, being this was the first time they had been in this type of atmosphere.”
The third quarter saw the Hornets dominate both sides of the floor as they had done for most of the first half. Besides baskets from Jahmal Byers and Roy, Rayville out scored the Bulldogs 19-4 over the first 4:30 of the period.
Ville Platte showed there was still life in their bodies in the final minutes of the quarter, staying stride for stride with the Hornets. The Bulldogs behind Tyler Jones’ eight points closed out the period.
Despite putting in mostly bench players during the fourth quarter of play, Rayville stayed in full speed mode. Ville Platte also emptied their bench, allowing the younger players to get some much deserved playing time. The only exception; senior guard Brandon Veazie.
In a classy move, Jones allowed Veazie, the only senior on the team, the chance to stay on the floor for the rest of the quarter. Veazie finished the night with three points.
“We are going to miss Brandon tremendously,” stated Jones. “He is a great guy that has a ton of personality. He works really hard and does all of the little things the right way. The team, myself included, appreciate his self-less attitude and his work ethic. He really set an example for all of the younger players.”
Tyler Jones led all scorers for Ville Platte with 16 points. Jahmal Byers and Roy each added 10 points for the Bulldogs.
Ernest Robert pulled down four rebounds.