BY RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Reserve Christian won its eleventh and twelfth straight games on Thursday and Friday in the first two rounds of the Woodlawn Tournament in Baton Rouge. But the Eagles suffered defeat for the first time all season on Saturday in the finals of the tourney.

Reserve Christian defeated Glen Oaks Thursday, 68-55, and St. Michael on Friday, 54-52, before falling to Istrouma in the finals of the Woodlawn Tournament on Saturday, 54-47.

Eddrin McCain led the Eagles (12-1) in the final game with 19 points. Kyle McClue added 10.

Istrouma (3-0) led 25-22 at halftime, and made its move in the third quarter, outscoring Reserve Christian 15-6 and establishing a 12-point advantage.

“It seemed like we were never mentally in the game,” said Reserve Christian Coach Timmy Byrd. “We stood around like we were tired. We missed 12 easy points around the basket, and we didn’t make shots that we usually do.”

Where the Eagles failed to pull off the comeback against Istrouma, they succeeded against St. Michael (2-2), erasing a six-point deficit in the final 90 seconds to advance to the championship game.

Trailing 52-46, McClue and McCain hit back-to-back threes to tie the game, and the defense held St. Michael’s scoreless.

McCain drew a foul with five seconds left and went to the line, where he sank two shots to give the Eagles a 54-52 lead it would not relinquish.

McCain scored 27 to lead all scorers. Chris Rousell scored 10.

Unlike the semifinals and finals, there was little drama in the Eagles 68-55 victory over Glen Oaks (3-1). Reserve Christian led by 17 after three quarters, thanks to a 25-point third quarter that extended a five-point lead at halftime.

“We played really well against Glen Oaks,” said Byrd. “We let our guard down at the end a bit. But Eddrin played big for us. McClue shot well from the field.”

McCain again led the team with 23 points, while McClue added 18. Kaliff Gastearl notched 14 points.