Duronselet scores 15 in fourth to motor St. James

By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

LAPLACE – Players and fans of St. Charles and St. James have seen a lot of big games between the two squads already this school year as both River Parish schools are classified together in an already potent district 10-2A. So there were a lot of familiar faces in attendance Tuesday night when the two schools met for a basketball double-header in LaPlace Tuesday night.

On the court, about a dozen players who were on the sidelines for the two football games between St. Charles and St. James were again facing off. And the Wildcat’s Craig Duronselet showed up big once again for St. James, scoring 15 of his team’s 25 points to overcome a three point deficit in the final eight minutes of play, giving the Wildcats a 61-53 win.

It looked like the Comets had the momentum going their way mid-way through the game. They outscored St. James 27-21 in the second and third quarters, reaching a seven point lead in the third period. But St. James slowed the Comets head of steam with a pair of three pointers in the third, keeping the game within reach of the Wildcats. That allowed for Duronselet to spark his team and take the momentum from SCC, scoring 15 of a total 18 points in the game. The St. Charles offense consisted mostly of Bonura pressing in the waning minutes of this one, but the Comets missed eight free throws in the final period, and ultimately lost by the same amount in a 61-53 final.

The loss put St. Charles into a three way tie for second in 10-2A along with Donaldsonville and Curtis.

The SCC girls meanwhile, are tied for second in district with Donaldsonville, each with 3-3 records which is now out of reach of Curtis with their perfect 6-0 record. They missed a chance to pull into that district runner-up spot last Tuesday with a 65-48 loss to the Lady Wildcats, despite a game-high 28 points scored by SCC’s Brooke Becker.

Brandi Jeffery led St. James in the win, posting 20 points while Trinequa Adams and Markeisha Keller added 14 and 13 each. The victory keeps the Lady Wildcats alive, but one game behind SCC and Donaldsonville in vying for runner-up in 10-2A.