By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

RESERVE — St. James boys and girls teams took their first district wins of the year Tuesday night in a 10-2A match-up with Riverside where the Rebels just couldn’t get enough offense to keep pace with the potent Wildcats.

The early game saw the girls play pretty evenly through the first quarter, entering the second period with a 12-11 score in favor of St. James.

But the Lady Wildcats started off on a 9-0 to pull into a ten point lead. Kayla Perrett broke the momentum with a pair of free throws to end the Riverside drought, but St. James’ Terrev Verret got her team right back on track to go into halftime with an 11 point lead.

The second half was a bit slower on both sides, but much the same as the first.

Marci Millet made a push to close the gap with eight points in the fourth quarter, but Trinquea Adams kept the Lady Rebels at bay from the free throw line.

Frustration set in in the fourth quarter when some aggressive play led to a personal foul and an ejection of St. James’ Kaitlyn Ruffin. After the gym settled back down, the St. James team ran down the clock for the 62-38 win.

Brandi Jeffery led the Lady Wildcats in the victory with a game-high 18 points. Anika Duronselet and Trinquea Adams each added nine.

Brittany Schoen led Riverside in the effort with 17 while Marci Millet scored eight.

On the boys side, established themselves with a 20 point lead before the second quarter got started and withstood Riverside’s best shots, and a 28 point fourth quarter for the Rebels. But even with that run, the home team was unable to get within range as they were just couldn’t take it through the lane, or to get their jumpers to fall in the 87-61 final.

St. James offense was spread around, with five players in double figures. Craig Duronselt led them with 15, Jordan Landry got 14, Jasmine got 11 and Justin Williams and Charles Geason both got ten.

Kane Keller led the Rebels with 25 points while David Serven got 20 and Jarid Caesar got ten.