By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

After a fast start to the season, St. Charles is looking for answers after losing four straight games — along with their starting point guard, for the time being.

The Comets fell to Shaw, 53-46 in St. Charles’ last game in the CYO Tournament in New Orleans on Saturday. St. Charles followed that up with a 55-20 loss at South Lafourche on Tuesday.

Comets point guard DeMarcus Bernard rolled his ankle early in the second quarter of the Shaw game, and missed the remainder of that contest as well as the South Lafourche game. He could be back for a rematch with Shaw at SCC on Dec. 22, the team’s first game after a two-week break.

Shaw took control on Saturday after a third quarter blitz by senior Eagles guard John Cotton, who scored all 17 of his team’s points in the period. That put Shaw ahead 43-34 entering the fourth quarter. Cotton finished with 29.

“He put on a show,” said St. Charles Coach Chris Perrone. “He got loose, and he scored in a variety of different ways. We were able to ‘D’ him up at the end, but at that point, he had done his damage.”

St. Charles (4-5) turned the ball over 18 times, and shot eight-of-19 from the foul line.

“We missed half of our free throws in the fourth quarter. We just missed too many opportunities to come back,” Perrone said. “Having DeMarcus would have helped, but we had our chances to make a push. We can’t use that as an excuse.”

The Comets last gasp fell short when the team missed four of its last eight foul shots within the final two minutes.

Birch Matus led St. Charles with 12 points. Jesse Coleman and Victor Gordon each added seven points.

Perrone said that while the Eagles were a bit undersized, their hustle made up for it.

“Those guys just played well,” he said. “They hustled. We had the taller team for the most part, but they’re a scrappy team and managed to outrebound us.”

At South Lafourche (10-0), the Comets suffered a power outage on offense. The Tarpons led 15-6 after a quarter, but that lead ballooned to 32-8 after the Comets were held to two points in the second quarter.

“We weren’t attacking their offense as well as I’d like,” said Perrone. “I don’t know if it was the long trip to the Bayou, or if they really knew what they were in for. South Lafourche has a heck of a program, and they go seven to eight deep without missing a beat.”

The Tarpons hit three 3-pointers in the final 1:30 of the half to establish a commanding 24-point lead at halftime. South Lafourche wouldn’t let up, and led 44-14 after three quarters.

Gordon led St. Charles with seven points. Gabe Corchiani added four.

Wesley Rhodes led the Tarpons with 14 points.