By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

It was more than just a bad omen when East St. John center Kelth Cameron tweaked his ankle in pre-game warm-ups on Monday night.

The Wildcats had to face Dutchtown on its senior night without the help of its 6’7 big man and the interior presence he provides.

The Griffins were able to take advantage, avenging a Jan. 18 loss at East St. John by defeating the Wildcats at home, 66-59.

“It seemed harder than I thought it would be for my team to recover from it,” said East St. John Coach Yussef Jasmine. “The kids were down after it happened.”

The Griffins established a 13-7 lead after a quarter, and maintained that six-point advantage through halftime.

East St. John trailed 40-36 after three quarters, but Dutchtown maintained the advantage until the Wildcats were put in a position to have to foul.

As in the first game, the Wildcats’ defensive pressure forced a number of Griffin turnovers. The difference this time was a failure by ESJ to turn those turnovers into points.

“We just didn’t convert,” said Jasmine. “They’d miss a foul shot, and we wouldn’t capitalize. We’d get a turnover, and come back down and not get the basket.”

Thomas Jackson led Dutchtown with 18 points. Scott Burgess had 15, and Lyle Mock scored 10.

Jamaan Kenner led the Wildcats with 20 points. Malcom Lago added 19. Josh Johnson scored 11.

Kenner and Johnson each hit three 3-pointers for East St. John, but as a team, the Wildcats attempted more threes than Jasmine would have liked to see.

“We shot way too many,” said Jasmine. “I think we tried to shoot (Dutchtown) out of their zone, instead of working the ball around to try and get a lay-up.”