By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

LAPLACE – St. Charles put themselves in prime position to take the district runner-up spot in 10-2A on Tuesday with a home court victory against Riverside, as Demarcus Bernard spurred the Comets to a win with 23 points.

Kane Keller was the game’s leading scorer as he posted 32 points for the Rebels, but it was not enough to give Riverside their first district win of the year.

The game started out quickly in favor of the home team, as St. Charles opened the game with an 18-3 run. Keller netted the only basket of the first quarter for the Rebels, a three pointer more than six minutes into the game.

Once the second got started, a quick four points came for Riverside on a pair of baskets, but St. Charles answered with consecutive buckets of their own by Bernard and senior Jonathan Bonura. The Comets built their lead up to 28-9 after a behind the back assist from Bonura to Austin Martin in a two on one break forcing a Riverside timeout. But St. Charles kept at it with an 8-2 run in the ensuing three minutes of play making it a 39-16 score. A Bobby Smith three pointer late just before the half helped the Rebels out, but Martin answered back for the Comets with a jumper to keep the momentum going into the break and a 41-19 lead.

The second half was mostly a formality, though that’s where Kane did most of his scoring. In a 76-53 final, the Comets completed a sweep of the Rebels for 10-2A play.

Bonura joined Bernard in double digits for St. Charles with 14, as did Martin and Fletcher, with 13 and 10 respectively. Smith also scored 11 Rebel points.

For SCC, the victory puts them at 5-2 in district play, as they move to 15-14 overall. That puts the Comets two league games ahead of Donaldsonville with one game left to go, while John Curtis has clinched 10-2A with a perfect 7-0 record thus far. SCC is set to host district leader St. James, who is 7-0 in league play, while Donaldsonville faces 3-4 John Curtis

Riverside goes to 14-19 on the season with the loss, which ends their year as the final playing date for the Rebels is an open one.