By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — St. Charles Catholic notched one of its most impressive wins of the basketball season, downing rival Lutcher, 69-41, at SCC Thursday night.

John Williams scored 17 of his game-high 25 points in the first quarter to help the Comets push out to a 22-6 lead. Trent Dunn scored 17 for SCC, and Mike Green added 11.

St. Charles led 43-17 at halftime.

“We rebounded the ball really well and got out in transition,” said St. Charles coach Chris Perrone. “We hit a couple of threes, made some layups. Our defense led to our offense.”

Williams’ early explosion came somewhat as a result, as he was a terror for the Bulldogs (3-3) on the break and found open looks in the lane and from the outside.

Dunn provided a compliment, adding a similar first half surge; 11 of his 17 came in the second quarter.

Perrone said Dunn made an impact with not only his shot, but his playmaking.

“No question, he got everyone involved, dropping dimes, setting people up … and he found his game inside of all of that,” said Perrone. “He played the way I ask him to play. He did a good job.”

On Tuesday, the Comets fell for the second time this season to former district foe Plaquemine (8-1), 44-33.

The Green Devils outscored the Comets 16-8 in the first half and led between eight and 11 after each of the next three.

Williams again led the Comets with 20 points.

“We missed a few opportunities and left some points on the table,” said Perrone.

Nonetheless, St. Charles is off to a 5-2 start this season and the coach believes that when his team starts to build momentum, his players become a very tough group to beat.

“When everything is clicking like it was (Thursday), the results are good. Where we want to be is that when we play well, and another team plays well, like a Plaquemine, we’re able to pull together and win those big games,” he said.