By RYAN ARENA
Sports Editor

Phoenix scored with under a minute left to pull out a back and forth contest with West St. John on Friday night, capturing a 46-44 non-district win at Phoenix.

West St. John was held scoreless in the final 60 seconds, unable to force an overtime period.

“We had our chances to put it away, especially in the last minute,” said West St. John Coach Antoine Edwards. “We got a few steals and made our way to the free throw line. But we couldn’t sink our free throws. No matter what, we couldn’t seem to score.”

Alton Joseph led West St. John with 19 points. Terrance Nathan added 12.

Phoenix led 23-22 at halftime, but the Rams took a two point advantage into the fourth quarter. There, Phoenix outscored West St. John 13-9 to close out a victory.

Neither team scored more than 13 points in any quarter of a defensively-oriented contest.

Still, even in that department, Edwards wasn’t exactly pleased.

“Our pressure wasn’t there defensively. The intensity wasn’t up to par by a long shot,” he said. “We didn’t step up to the challenge or do anything that was necessary to win.”

The Rams coach says that things need to change quickly if his team is to make any noise in district play. The Rams opened its district schedule yesterday at home against East Iberville.