By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

East St. John moved to 5-3 last week, after defeating Fontainebleau 67-66 last Monday and winning two of three games in the St. Amant tournament.

East St. John fell in its first tournament game, 59-44 to Terrebonne. It rebounded on Thursday to down Donaldsonville, 67-46. On Friday, the Wildcats won via forfeit over Hammond.

The Fontainebleau (1-5) game ended up being close at game’s end, but Wildcats coach Yussef Jasmine said that he felt his team controlled most of the action.

“We were able to pound the ball inside, and get our football guys involved in our rotation,” Jasmine said. “Our strength is our inside play.”

Jasmine also praised the play of Jamaan Kenner, who was effective on both ends of the floor.

The Fontainebleau contest represented the first time that many of the school’s football players were available for basketball game action, and Jasmine has been pleased with the results. In the team’s 67-46 win over Donaldsonville (4-5) on Thursday, Jasmine used 15 of his 16 available players, and wore down the opposition.

“Our inside guys are really starting to come on strong for us,” said Jasmine. “We had balanced scoring across the board. We were able to put pressure on them defensively at all times, and that forced the tempo in our favor.”

But Thursday’s matchup against Terrebonne (8-2) proved difficult for the Wildcats, who Jasmine said had trouble running their offense against Terrebonne’s matchup zone defense.

“They have been tough for us,” said Jasmine. “Especially with us just getting the football players back, they’re not familiar yet with how to adjust to that matchup zone. We did eventually adjust, but it was too late.”