MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / May 19, 1999

LAPLACE – The Bayou Jaguars rallied from deficits of eight, six and five points to defeat the Bayou Boys, 55-51, and win the inaugural Bayou Jaguars AAU 11-year-olds basketball tournament Sunday afternoon at the Glade School.

Alfred Ranton tossed in four 3-pointers to help lead the comeback and was named the tournament MVP. Ranton finished with 12 points. Johnny Thielled all scorers with 15 points while Joe McKnight added 11 points.

Martin Dorsey led the Bayou Boys with 13 points. Thomas Brucecontributed 12 points with David Matherne tossing in another 11.

The Jaguars, the top-ranked team in the state, took the lead for good at 40-38 on Chad Simmons’ 3-pointer from the right corner with 12 seconds left in the third quarter. The Jaguars built that lead to six with 5:08remaining in layups by Melvin Lambert and Thiel.

The Bayou Boys cut the deficit to 46-43 on a three-point play by Matherne.

McKnight and Dorsey traded baskets before Ranton buried a 3-pointer from the right corner to make it 51-45. A layup by Matherne off a steal byArthur Triggs and a put back by Dorsey made it a two-point game with 42 seconds left.

After a drive by Thiel, Triggs rolled in a jumper, making it 53-51 with seven seconds remaining. After Thiel was fouled at the top of the key andtwo time outs by the Bayou Boys, McKnight took an in-bounds pass and found Thiel driving the left baseline. Thiel laid in the shot as the buzzersounded to ice the victory.

The Bayou Boys jumped on top early, taking an 8-0 lead on two baskets and a free throw by Dorsey and a three-point play by Bruce. A 3-pointer fromthe left corner and a layup by McKnight brought the Jaguars to within 10-9 with two minutes left in the quarter. McKnight drove in to tie it up at 16at the end of the quarter.

The Bayou Boys jumped out to a 22-16 lead at the beginning of the second period on jumpers by Deeric Raymond and Javon Folse and a drive by Bruce.

Ranton then rallied the Jaguars, knocking down 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions to give the Jaguars a 25-24 lead with 1:52 left.

A drive by Aaron Adams increased that lead to 27-24. The Bayou Boys thenpulled back ahead on three free throws by Raymond. Raymond then drovethe lane, giving the Bayou Boys a 30-27 lead at the break.

A put back by Dorsey increased the lead to 32-27 early in the third quarter. The Jaguars then went on a 10-2 run, taking the lead on a 3-pointer from the right side by Thiel. Three possessions later, Thielgrabbed a rebound, tossed downcourt to McKnight who found Lambert driving in to make it 37-34. Bruce followed with a jumper in the lane andFolse scored underneath after taking a pass from Triggs to give the Bayou Boys a 38-37 lead.

The Jaguars advanced to the championship game with a 50-36 victory over Mayfair Sunday. The Jaguars earlier took a 32-14 victory over the BatonRouge Flyers. The Bayou Boys advanced by edging out the River ParishHoyas, 50-49, and then defeating the New Orleans Stallions in the semifinals.

In Friday’s action, the Hoyas defeated the Stallions, 43-39, and the Jaguars defeated Evangeline, 52-47.

In the 12-year-old tournament, Team LA won the championship with a 39- 36 victory over the New Orleans Stallions. Team LA’s Kevin Johnson wasnamed the tournament’s MVP.

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