BY GEORGE MAHL

EDGARD – The recent boys basketball game between Reserve Christian School and West St. John High School featured fast-paced, non-stop action up and down the court.

It also took an extra four minutes to decide a winner. With the score tied at 65 with less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter, the RCS Eagles had possession and elected to hold for the final shot. Demond “Tweety” Carter slipped on the floor and lost control of the ball with six seconds remaining, thus sending the game into overtime.

The Eagles’ defense tightened in the extra period, which enabled them to get a 81-69 road win. Carter, a freshman guard, finished the game with 44 points, while WSJ star Quinn Johnson had 28 points in the defeat.

Johnson came out hot by scoring 12 points in the first quarter. Leading 14-12, the Rams, who are coached by Antoine Edwards, scored the final five points of the quarter giving them a 19-12 lead at the end of the first.

The big blow was Johnson making a three-point play to end the first period.

The second quarter saw the Rams get off to a fast start by going on a 10-2 spurt. With 5:35 remaining until halftime, RCS head coach Timmy Byrd called a time out with his team down 27-14. A visibly upset Byrd got a point across to his team during the time out because the Eagles immediately responded with a four-point play. Carter hit a three-pointer from the top of the arch while being fouled.

Both teams went on to exchange baskets until Eagles guard Marlon Brumfield made a thunderous dunk pulling the Class B school to within two with about three minutes left until the half. Carter, who scored 12 points in the second quarter, hit a lay-up making the score 36-35 RCS heading into the locker room.

A 7-0 run in the middle of the third quarter enabled the Eagles to take a 51-45 lead with 2:31 left in the third. The final 2:31 of the period saw both teams exchange baskets each trip down the court.

Things got interesting during the final period of regulation. Johnson’s jumper followed by Thomas Augusta’s basket tied the game at 57-57. Johnson led all scorers in the final stanza by scoring 12 points. A crucial basket by Johnson came with 2:11 left in regulation. His goal tied the score at 65.

With the victory, RCS improved to 19-5, while WSJ fell to 3-2.