By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

NEW ORLEANS – East St. John lost a tough, close game to McDonogh No. 35 last season, but the Wildcats returned the favor Monday night.

ESJ defeated the Roneagles on the road, 64-59, in overtime to bounce back from a pair of consecutive losses at the Allstate Sugar Bowl CYO Tournament last week.

Tre’Von Jasmine led the Wildcats (4-3) with 17 points, including a pair of free throws at the end of regulation that forced overtime. Edwin Winston scored 14 and Kyron Mitchell added 11.

Christopher Mark led McDonogh No. 35 (8-6) with 18 points. Noel Jackson added 16.

“Even in the losses to Brother Martin and St. Augustine (at the CYO tourney), I thought we got better in a lot of areas,” said East St. John coach Yussef Jasmine. “We made some mistakes at McDonogh 35 … it’s a tough envornment to play in. The guys responded well though. They beat us at the buzzer last year, we got them in overtime this time out.

“This has become kind of an every-year game between us, and these teams compete.”

Tre’Von Jasmine’s late free throws came after he registered a steal with just under 10 seconds left.

Yussef Jasmine said it was something of a breakout game, one he had been waiting to see.

“I thought Tre asserted himself more. And we need that,” he said. “We need that guard who can take over, not turn it over, set up the big men. I thought it was a good statement game, and also one for us as a unit.”

East St. John led 17-9 after the first quarter, but the Roneagles got their feet underneath them in the second offensively, outscoring the Wildcats 19-14.

The Wildcats outscored McDonogh No. 35 11-6 in overtime.

ST. AUGUSTINE 53, ESJ 47 – In the consolation bracket of the CYO tournament, the Purple Knights got past the Wildcats by six behind Craig Victor Jr.’s 14 points. Dalton Glapion added 13.

Kyle Patterson led ESJ with 14 points while Kyron Mitchell scored 10.

St. Augustine (9-4) led by six after the first quarter, and the Wildcats were forced to play from behind for most of the game.

“We did a good job of making it close. St. Augustine started really hot, though, and I think it set us back on our heels,” said Jasmine.

“We were never able to get over the hump, get the lead and hold onto it.”

East St. John split two earlier games at the CYO tournament, besting Sophie B. Wright but falling to Brother Martin in triple overtime.

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