Tom Dodge
OPELOUSAS – Eunice began strong, but Northwest finished with a 82-35 win over the Bobcats in the Opelousas Catholic tournament.
In the season opener for the Bobcats, Eunice jumped out to a 23-15 first quarter lead.
Trey Cooper hit an early three-pointer and Simeon Ardoin added a drive in the lane.
After a trey from Northwest’s Kameron Jackson, the Bobcats answered with a 9-0 run including another three-pointer by Cooper.
Northwest responded with six straight points before Dedrick Vigers converted a three-point play to push the Bobcats ahead, 17-9.
Kevontdraay Savoy later scored in the lane, Harold Savoy hit a free throw and Vigers scored off a steal as Eunice pushed ahead 23-13.
Northwest’s Castille hit two free throws in the final seconds as the Raiders began their comeback.
Northwest went on a 8-0 run to begin the second period and tie the game, 23-23.
Fred Guillory scored in the lane for the Bobcats, but Jackson answered with a lay-up to tie the game again.
A baseline shot by Raider Kylan Guillory was topped with a trey by Vigers.
Freeman scored inside for Northwest, but Vigers drilled another trey and Cooper scored off a steal to push the Bobcats up 33-29 midway through the second quarter.
But Northwest exploded for an 11-0 run to close the half, sparked by five points from Jackson and a closing seconds steal by Montaze Sam as the Raiders led 40-33 at intermission.
The two teams continued to battle in the third period as Northwest opened the second half with a 7-2 run.
Four points by Cooper helped the Cats keep within 10 points, trailing 47-37 midway through the period.
After Northwest pushed ahead 51-37, Shawn Hudson and Vigers scored for the Cats.
Eunice continued its 10-2 run with a putback by Edward Hill along with inside buckets by Cooper and Fred Guillory.
Terrance Shillow later pushed in four points and Guillory added a free throw as the Bobcats closed the gap to 58-50 late in the period.
After a Raider drive to the basket, Cooper hit two free throws with 12 seconds left as the Bobcats trailed 60-52 as the game moved to the final period.
Northwest exploded for a 22-3 run in the fourth quarter to put the game away, including 10 straight points before Hudson hit a free throw at the 5:24 mark.
The Raiders then added a 12-0 surge before Shilow and Hudson scored free throws in the final 1:30 of the contest.
Cooper led Eunice with 16 points and Vigers added 15 points.
Jackson led Northwest with 15 points, while Castille and Guidry both pushed in 14 points.
Sam and Freeman scored 13 points each for the Raiders.
After playing Port Barre in the Vikings’ tournanent, the Bobcats return home Wednesday to face Opelousas Catholic.