John Burson
By John Burson
Sports Writer
PORT BARRE – The Eunice High Lady Bobcats took the early lead against the Port Barre Lady Red Devils, then fought off a second-half rally to claim a 73-60 victory Tuesday evening in District 5-3A action.
The Lady Bobcats had a strong start as they took a 16-8 lead at the end of the first quarter behind the scoring of Leah Walker and Shania Toussaint, each of whom had five points.
The Lady Cats used an 11-9 second quarter to claim a 24-17 halftime lead. Toussaint topped the second-quarter scoring with six points and Stacie White added four to lead the Lady Bobcats in the quarter.
In the third quarter, the Lady Red Devils began their comeback behind the scoring of S. Hardy.
Hardy hit four field goals and sank 6 of 10 free throw attempts as Port Barre outscored the Lady Bobcats by a 24-20 margin to cut the Eunice lead to 47-41 heading into the fourth quarter.
Shania Malveaux scored seven points to lead the Eunice scoring in the third quarter.
But the Lady Bobcats would not give up the lead in the final eight minutes as Walker and White would score 11 points apiece in the fourth quarter to secure the victory for the Lady Bobcats, who outscored the Lady Red Devils 26-19 in the quarter.
Four Lady Bobcats hit the double-figure scoring mark for the game.
White led the way with 24 points. Toussaint added 19 points, with Walker and Malveaux finishing with 16 and 10 points, respectively.
Hardy topped the scoring for Port Barre with 28 points.
Mariah Doston added 12 points for the Lady Red Devils.
The victory evened the district record of the Lady Bobcats at 3-3.
The Lady Cats will host Pine Prairie in another 5-3A encounter Friday.
PBHS 58, Eunice 51
PORT BARRE – Eunice High rallied in the fourth quarter to force an overtime period Tuesday night but were unable to maintain its momentum as the Port Barre Red Devils outscored the Bobcats 12-5 in overtime to claim a 58-51 victory.
Eunice started the game by tying the Red Devils 12-12 in the first quarter.
But a 14-11 advantage in the second quarter by the Red Devils found the Bobcats trailing 26-23 at halftime.
Port Barre extended their lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Bobcats by a 16-11 margin to enter the fourth quarter with a 42-32 advantage.
But the Bobcats would have a strong fourth quarter, limiting the Red Devils to just four points while scoring 14.
Malik Poullard hit two treys and Brandon Ndubueze added four points as the Bobcats forced overtime at 46-46.
But the Red Devils would make ten free throws out 13 attempts at the foul line and Christian Andrus added a field goal in the overtime period to claim the victory.
The Bobcats managed just five points in the overtime period with Ndubueze making one field goal and hitting two of four at the free-throw line and Carlin Vigers making one of two from the line.
Ndubueze finished as the top scorer for the Bobcats with 14 points.
Vigers added 12 and Poullard, Jude Cormier, and Deshawn Vigers had six points each.
Leading scorer for Port Barre was Sidney Pickney with 19 points.
Andrus added 17 and Kyeron Malveaux had 10 for the Red Devils.