The two teams battled for control for most of the game before Eunice escaped with a 67-62 District 5-3A win over Crowley Friday night.
Eunice (13-10, 7-3) jumped out to a 5-2 lead, sparked by a trey from Jesslyn Reed and a drive in the lane from Shanyia Toussaint.
Crowley (12-10, 5-5) responded with a 6-0 run including four points by Lily Hoffpauir and a lay-up by Taylor Price as the Ladies grabbed a 8-5 advantage.
Reed hit another late trey to force an 8-8 tie as the game moved to the second quarter.
The Lady Cats began the frame with a trey from Hailey Sonnier and a put-back bucket by Leah Walker.
Crowley’s Hoffpauir and Taylor Walker hit second chance scores and Kentaysia Wildridge added a lay-up to push the Ladies up, 14-13 with 2:54 left in the half.
Stacie White scored in the lane and Toussaint pushed in put-back bucket to lift the Lady Cats to a 17-14 advantage.
The Lady Cats later added to their lead with shots from J’lisa Thibeaux and White before Miller’s trey with eight seconds left allowed Crowley to tie the game, 21-21.
White responded with a trey at the buzzer to give Eunice a 24-21 lead heading into the locker room.
After scoring only seven points in the first half, White exploded in the second half – beginning with a 5-0 surge to open the third period.
Toussaint added a three-pointer for the Lady Cats before Tyzaneka Price scored in the lane for the Ladies.
After Toussaint hit a free throw to push Eunice ahead, 33-25, White kept the barrage going with a 6-0 run.
Crowley scored underneath, but White again answered with a put-back bucket and Toussaint later added a free throw.
The Ladies fought to get back in the game, sparked by a drive from Price and a three point-plays by both Imani Jackson and Wildridge.
White slowed the CHS surge with a trey to push Eunice up, 45-33.
The Ladies hit five free throws late in the third period, while Toussaint’s lay-up allowed Eunice to take a 47-38 lead into the fourth quarter.
Crowley battled back into the game with an 8-0 run to pull closer, 47-46.
Reed’s put-back bucket was answered with a drive from Hoffpauir.
The Ladies went on a 6-0 run to grab a 54-50 lead with 3:35 left in the game.
Eunice answered with an 8-0 surge, sparked by two buckets from White, as well as steals by Walker and Toussaint.
After Crowley closed the gap to 58-56 on free throws from Price, Eunice answered with a trey from Sonnier, followed by three points from Walker.
After two Crowley free throws, White later scored off a steal to push EHS up 67-58 with 28 seconds left.
Crowley scored on two buckets from Price as the Ladies closed the final gap to 67-62.
White led all scorers with 28 points.
Toussaint chipped in 15 points, followed by Reed (8), Walker (7) and Sonnier (6).
Miller led Crowley with 15 points, while Price and Hoffpauir both scored 10 points.
Eunice travels to district rival Church Point Tuesday.
EHS 63, Crowley 46
Eunice High picked up a crucial District 5-3A win Friday as the Bobcats rolled to a 63-46 win over the Crowley Gents.
The Bobcats took a quick lead on a 3-point goal from Mykal Moore in basketball action against the Crowley High Gents in district action at the Bobcat gym.
The Gents quickly tied the game at 3-3 on a 3-point goal from Roderick Nelson. The Bobcats struck back quickly as Carlin Vigers stole the ball and drove in for a basket.
Trey Cooper added a goal to give the Bobcats a 7-4 with 2:53 left in the first quarter.
The Cats expanded their lead on a 3-point goal from Avery Lee for a 10-5 lead. Nelson cut the Eunice lead to 10-8 with a goal, but Vigers extended the Eunice lead to 12-8 with a drive to the basket with 1:21 left in the quarter.
Isiah Darby added a goal for the Cats to give the Cats a 14-8 lead as the quarter ended.
The Gents quickly responded at the start of the second quarter on a field goal from Bryan Montgomery to make it a 14-10 lead for the Gents.
Darby went inside for a goal for the Cats before Kobe Doucet nailed the 3-point goal to give the Bobcats a 19-14 advantage.
The Cats extended their lead to go ahead by a 23-14 on a free throw by Jordan Ledet. The Gents rallied a bit just prior to halftime, closing the gap to 21-14. A drive to the basket by Vigers and a layup by Divine Hampton gave the Cats a 29-16 lead at the half.
The Gents cut into the Bobcat lead at the start of the third quarter to make it a 29-19 score. But the Bobcats responded with a 3-point goal from Chris Gennuso to give the Cats a 32-19 advantage.
The Cats extended their lead with Vigers adding a goal from 3-point territory. Marquis Garrett matched trhe 3-point goal for Crowley before Mykal Moore extended the Eunice lead to 38-21.
The Gents rallied back to cut the Bobcat lead to 38-24, but the Cats were able to pull away to a 44-30 lead after Vigers sank two free throws as the third quarter ended.
The Cats pulled away to a 51-31 lead, but Crowley fought back to cut the lead to 53-37, but the Bobcats used goals from Cooper, Vigers, and Hampton to keep the Gents at bay on their way to a 63-46 victory.
Vigers scored 16 points to lead the Bobcats, while Moore added 10 points.
Byron Montgomery led the Gents with 20 points.
Eunice (6-14, 4-4) travels to district rival Church Point (3-20, 0-7) Tuesday.
the Bobcats will celebrate Senior Night Friday against Port Barre (10-9, 3-4).
Crowley (13-9, 6-2) returns home Tuesday to face district leader Northwest (11-10, 6-1).