By Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / February 16, 1998

RESERVE – Second-chance points helped the West St. John Rams remain ina tie for first-place in District 9-2A with a 91-84 victory at Riverside Tuesday evening.

The Rams improved to 12-7 overall and 6-1 in District 9-2A. West St.John traveled to co-leader Ridgewood, a 99-75 victor over Ecole Classique, last night. Riverside fell to 9-15 overall and 2-5 in districtplay.

Donreil Louis, the area’s third-leading scorer in Class 3A, led the way for the Rams with 24 points. Marlon Jackson added 16 points, while PendarvasMorris tossed in 11 points.

The Rebels were led by Keith LeBlanc with 21 points. Sean Delaneuvillecontributed 17 points, while Anson Matherne came through with 13 points.

Michael Schoen led a late Rebels’ comeback with 10 points.

West St. John scored from both the outside and the inside to jump out to a23-16 first quarter lead. After a 3-pointer by LeBlanc gave the Rebelstheir only lead at 5-4, Elijah Jasmine answered with a jumper in the lane.

A running one-handed jumper by Brian Lumar and a jump shot by Carl Gauthier built the advantage to 18-12.

Matherne spun into the lane for a layup to cut the deficit to four, but the Rams countered with a 3-pointer by Gauthier and a jump shot by Jackson to take a seven-point lead after the first quarter of play.

After Jackson and Craig Tearney traded baskets to open the second quarter, West St. John opened up its lead with a 12-0 run. Morris scoredsix straight points on a put back and two jump shots to open the run.

Adair Alexander was then fouled on a 3-point attempt and made the first two free throws. Louis rebounded the third shot and put it back in to givethe Rams a 35-18 lead.

Riverside closed the gap as Tearney hit three of four free throws and Delaneuville took a pass from David Garsee underneath. Marlon Jacksonanswered with a put back to build the advantage back to 45-28 at the half.

Delaneuville and George Murla buried 3-pointers to keep the Rebels within 18 in the third quarter, but Louis responded with a 3-pointer of his own and Jamar Bailey scored on a put back to increase the lead back to 67-43.

LeBlanc closed out the scoring by tossing in a 3-pointer from near the midcourt stripe as the buzzer sounded.

Six points by Louis and four by Jasmine keyed a 16-5 run in the fourth quarter for the Rams. Jackson added a jump shot and Alexander put back amiss to give the Rams their biggest lead at 84-57.

A 3-pointer by Delaneuville started a comeback for the Rebels. ReneTrosclair added a jumper in the lane and Delaneuville rebounded a miss and tossed in another 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 86-65.

After Arthur Johnson scored to bring the lead back to 20, LeBlanc and Schoen hit 3-pointers to bring the Rebels to within 88-74. Rayshon Brownanswered with a put back before Schoen hit two 3-pointers to pull the Rebels to within nine at the end.

“We got the big lead and were able to play a lot of kids,” West St. Johncoach Antoine Edwards said of the victory. “I am thankful for the win andam looking forward to Ridgewood.”Riverside coach John White said his team handled the ball better than they have, especially in the second half.

West St. John hosts St. Martin’s Tuesday night while the Rebels travel toRidgewood.

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