By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

With a loss potentially dropping West St. John out of playoff position in District 9-1A, the Rams desperately needed a win to halt its three game losing streak.

But West St. John remains in control of its own destiny, after the Rams left district foe North Iberville with a 61-54 victory on Tuesday night.

Blake Comminie’s 20 points led the way for West St. John, who trailed by eight in the first quarter but outscored the Bears (13-14, 3-4) in each quarter the rest of the way.

“We stepped it up on defense, which helped us get the lead,” said West St. John Coach Antoine Edwards. “The presence of that defense made it possible.”

The key to that defensive showing was pressure, and lots of it.

“We started pressing, trapping, and creating turnovers that we turned into some easy baskets,” said Edwards.

Raynard Thomas scored 13 for West St. John (11-12, 4-3). Dray Joseph scored 12, while Alton Joseph added eight.

Raphael Pryor led North Iberville with a game-high 24 points.

West St. John and North Iberville entered the game in a tie for third place in District 9-1A, each a half game behind second-place East Iberville.

The win on Thursday night moved West St. John into a tie with East Iberville for second entering Friday night.

The win put West St. John in position to clinch a playoff spot with a victory, which it had a chance to do last night against Ascension Catholic. The Bulldogs are winless in district play.

Edwards said that his kids knew the importance of beating North Iberville, and brought a sense of purpose to the court.

“I told the kids before the game that we had to come up with a win to stay in contention. This was big for us,” said Edwards.