Tom Dodge
It was battle between rivals as the Bobcats faced the Raiders with 10 Eunice High seniors playing in front of the home crowd for the final time this season.
Northwest jumped out to an early lead, but Eunice High rallied to take a seven-point advantage into the final period.
The Raiders responded with a late rally to grab a 57-52 District 5-3A win over the Bobcats.
Eunice (9-15, 7-6) closes the regular season Friday at Iota.
Northwest began the game with a 10-0 run before Eunice answered with two free throws from Mykal Moore and a dunk by Carlin Vigers.
The Raiders responded with a 9-0 surge, aided by a trey from Keshawn Lazard.
The Bobcats pushed in five points including buckets from Joshua Dupre and Jordan Ledet to close the gap to 19-9.
Kylan Guillory drove the lane in the closing seconds of the first period and Melhi Hammond scored to open the second frame as Northwest led, 23-9.
Eunice’s Chris Gennusso hit trey, but Hammond quickly responded with his own three-pointer.
Divine Hampton’s drive to the basket hedped the Bobcats close the deficit to 28-14 with 1:30 left in the half.
Kamyrn Guidry then slammed a dunk for the Raiders but drew a technical foul for hanging on the rim.
Two free throws and a trey from Vigers began a 13-0 Bobcat run to end the half.
Moore scored twice in the lane, while Isiah Darby pushed in a lay-up for the Bobcats.
Vigers scored on a last-second ut-back to help Eunice close the gap to 28-27 at the break.
Moore scored twice early in the third quarter to give the Bobcats a 31-29 lead.
After two free throws by Guidry tied the game, Eunice responded with a drive by Moore and a trey from Hampton.
Both teams exchanged a pair of free throws before Northwest scored inside to close the Bobcats’ lead to 38-35.
Eunice finished the third frame with free throws from Hampton, Darby and Vigers to give the Bobcats a 42-35 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Northwest opened the final period with a 9-2 run to force a 44-44 tie.
The battle continued as Vigers pushed in two free throws, but Hammond scored from the baseline.
Guidry’s free throw gave the Raiders a one-point lead, but a put-back from Hampton shifted the advantage back to the Bobcats with 2:34 left.
Guidry drove the lane and a dunk from Lazard pushed Northwest back ahead as the game moved into the final minute.
A free throw from Gennusso was answered with two from the line by Northwest’s Hammond.
A trey from Hampton closed the margin to 53-52, but the Raiders finished with a 4-0 run to seal the win.
Vigers and Moore both scored 14 points to lead the Bobcats, while Hampton added 11 points.
Lazard led Northwest with 17 points, while Hammond chipped in 13 points and Guidry added 10 points.