By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

LAPLACE – The third time was the charm for Curtis last Tuesday night.

The Patriots beat SCC in boys basketball for the first time through three match-ups this year, winning with a fourth quarter surge that ended St. Charles Catholic’s season at home in the regional round of the Class 2A playoffs for the second consecutive year. Last season it was also a district foe that took the Comets out on their home court, as Donaldsonville took a 103-96 triple overtime victory.

It was a rough final five minutes for the Comets as they fizzled and just couldn’t manage to get a clean shot at the basket in the waning moments. Vincent Rollo made it exciting with a pair of quick release three pointers to close the gap to a single possession. The inbounds by Curtis looked unsuccessful, giving SCC fans hope, but time ran out on St. Charles with an inbounds to no one up court as the Comets had pressed the Patriots.

Early on, it was a tale of turnovers, keeping scoring down. But it looked good for the Comets on their home court as they took a five point lead in a defensive first quarter that ended 9-8. The pressure continued through to the second as Curtis took a lead as the Comets could only manage three baskets through the quarter, sending it into halftime with a Patriot lead at 16-15.

The Comets retook that lead in the third quarter with ____. But in the fourth _____.