A shoulder injury forced Ellender High senior guard Marquie Mosely to miss 11 games earlier this season.
On Monday night he made his return in a big way by leading the Patriots to a 59-52 nondistrict victory over Class 5A St. Augustine from Houma.
Mosely scored 17 points and was 8-of-9 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to help the Patriots (6-13 overall) seal the victory.
“This game was big for us because we are in January and starting a new part of our season,” Mosely said. “I am just getting back right. We know this win will give us some power points for the playoffs. We stuck to our game plan. Coach told us what they were going to do and we made buckets and free throws were big too. I am happy my team played together. It’s time to get our streak going.”
Patriots coach Cornell Scott said Mosely being back in the lineup provided a spark.
“He’s still not 100 percent, but it’s good to have him back,” Scott said. “It was a positive lift. I saw a whole different team with him back and I thought we got some great minutes from Doryan Price and Kobe Hartman, who didn’t score as much as he normally does, but he controlled the lane.”
St. Augustine (11-7 overall) led 12-10 at the end of the first quarter after Devon Jefferson hit a 3-pointer well beyond half court at the first-quarter buzzer.
On the strength of a jumper from Jamire Mott (13 points) led 28-24 at halftime.
The Patriots led 40-39 entering the fourth quarter and Ellender led by as much as nine in the final period and made enough free throws down the stretch to keep the Purple Knights from truly threatening.
After hitting five 3-pointers in the first half, Ellender held the Purple Knights, which got 16 points from Zé Muse and 12 points from Bryson Celestine, to one 3-pointer made in the second half.
“They made shots and we didn’t,” St. Augustine coach Mitchell Johnson said. “The name of the game is putting the ball in the hole. We did a lot of standing around and looking hoping things would happen (on offense). They may have defended a little tougher in the second half, but we got the same looks. This is a tough place to win. We just have to keep plugging away.”
MONDAY’S AREA BOYS BASKETBALL CAPSULE
HOUMA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 61, GRAND ISLE 44 (at Houma, nondistrict game)
Score by quarter: Houma Christian led 9-5 after the first quarter, 32-13 at halftime and 44-25 at the end of the third quarter.
Statistical leaders: Houma Christian — Tre Washington (20 points), Deshaun Jones (12 points), Trent Washington (10 points)
Records: Houma Christian (8-6 overall); Grand Isle (5-11 overall)
MONDAY’S AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL CAPSULE
ASSUMPTION 50, E.D. WHITE CATHOLIC 44 (at Napoleonville, nondistrict game)
Score by quarter: Assumption led 11-5 after the first quarter, 27-12 at halftime and 38-26 at the end of the third quarter.
Statistical leaders: Assumption – Tajah Griffin (22 points), Ra’von Robertson (18 points); E.D. White — Caroline Delaune (16 points), Grace Clement (11 points)
Records: Assumption (8-8 overall); E.D. White (9-8 overall)
MONDAY’S AREA GIRLS SOCCER CAPSULE
SACRED HEART 4, E.D. WHITE CATHOLIC 2 (at New Orleans, nondistrict game)
Halftime: Sacred Heart led 2-1
Statistical leader: E.D. White – Ann-Marie Schwaner (two goals)
Records: Sacred Heart (4-4-0 overall); E.D. White (7-7-4 overall)
HOUMA CHRISTIAN BOYS SOCCER MATCH POSTPONED
The Houma Christian School at Ascension Christian District 6-IV boys soccer match set for Monday was postponed because of inclement weather. It will now be played on Jan. 20.