Tigers and Bulldogs reach second round

It was a great open to the boy’s basketball postseason for both Donaldsonville schools last week as Donaldsonville High and Ascension Catholic reached the second round of the playoffs.

Donaldsonville garnered the second-highest seeding in the parish.

Though the Tigers struggled down the stretch of the season—going just 2-4 in their final six games—they were still able to win 18 games and earn the high seed due to the strength of their schedule.

During the year, they earned huge victories over defending 3A champion University, 4A Plaquemine and 5A Dutchtown and West Jefferson.

This secured them the No. 8 seed in the Class 3A playoffs. With the high seeding, they were able to host a first-round game against No. 25 Bogalusa (17-11) on Friday night.

After trailing by 11 early on, the Tigers weathered the storm and surged back for a 67-56 victory to advance to the second round.

Things did not look good in the first quarter for Donaldsonville. A slow start put them in a 22-11 hole entering the second quarter.

They were able to make up some ground, but they still trailed Bogalusa at halftime, 33-27.

In the third quarter, the Tigers finally got back to playing like the team that earned the high seeding during the regular season. They outscored Bogalusa, 19-6, to head into the fourth quarter with a 46-39 advantage.

In the final period, it was much of the same. Donaldsonville was able to pull away with the 11-point victory.

In the win, Ladarius Jackson led the way with a game-high 21. Everette Wilson and Terry Holmes had big games down low as they each scored 16, and Jacoby Simon chipped in with 8.

It was the first Donaldsonville playoff win in two years.

Ascension Catholic was able to make the playoffs for the first time in two seasons and for the first time under second-year head coach Kylon Green.

In the new Division IV, the Bulldogs hosted a first-round game on Friday night against No. 19 False River (10-13).

The Bulldogs pulled away early as they jumped up 21-9 at the end of one, but the Gators countered with a 19-9 run in the second to cut the Ascension Catholic lead to 30-28 at halftime.

However, the Bulldogs were able to take control in the third as their offense erupted for 28 points.

They took a 15-point lead into the fourth quarter, and they were able to ice away a 75-58 victory.

Four Bulldogs scored in double-figures.

Jamar Barber led the effort with 17, Jamil Truxillo scored 16, Jacoby Stewart had 15 and Javon Yarbourgh netted 14.

It was Ascension Catholic’s first playoff win since 2005—a year in which the Bulldogs reached the state quarterfinals.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they were not able to duplicate the run of that 2005 squad.

On Monday night, they fell hard to No. 3 Hamilton Christian (20-13) in the second round, 89-53.