The Ellender Lady Patriots used their full-court pressure to go on an early run and force a Madison Prep timeout just over a minute into their nondistrict game on Tuesday night.
Ellender set the tempo of the game early with that run, never trailed and rolled to a 67-46 victory in Houma.
The 6-0 start to the game for Ellender, the 2017 Class 4A champion, and the tempo it established was something Lady Patriots coach Kenneth Dixon said he was happy to see.
“We were very impressive,” Dixon said. “We got a few steals. We got into the passing lanes and got two or three layups. That was a positive because we have been on the other end of that spectrum before being down 8, 10 or 12 early.”
Ellender (12-5 overall, seventh in Class 4A power ratings) got 17 points from Orieon James, 15 points from Marghan Frierson, eight points from Kira Coleman and seven points from J’Lisha Holly.
“We played them last year (when Madison Prep won 51-41) and they were nice,” James said. “We knew we had some competition and that they play fast like us so we knew we had to jump on them early. We were pressing and running fast breaks. We were trying to get them winded before they got us winded.”
By keeping Madison Prep of Baton Rouge uncomfortable, the Lady Patriots got out to a 20-10 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 40-23 at halftime.
Ellender led by as many as 22 points twice in the third quarter after 3-pointers by Frierson and led 52-32 at the end of the period.
Madison Prep (11-10 overall, ninth in Class 3A power ratings) could never make a run at the Lady Patriots in the fourth quarter.
“We didn’t come out ready to play,” Madison Prep coach Dwayne Harris said. “We got off to a slow start. We had too many misses. I don’t think we played a really good game. We allowed too many second-chance shots. They hurt us on the boards. We tried to claw back into it, but they kept pulling away. We didn’t play our best game.”
The Lady Chargers got a game-high 20 points from junior guard Kennedi Green.
TUESDAY’S GIRLS BASKETBALL CAPSULES
THIBODAUX 50, TERREBONNE 33 (at Houma, District 7-5A game)
Statistical leaders: Thibodaux – A’shyri Wolfe (18 points), Bren’naisa Adams (12 points, nine rebounds)
Records: Thibodaux (15-7 overall, 3-1 in district); Terrebonne (9-12 overall, 0-3 in district)
CENTRAL LAFOURCHE 55, H.L. BOURGEOIS 48 (at Mathews, District 7-5A game)
Score by quarters: H.L. Bourgeois led 12-6 after the first quarter and 23-22 at halftime, and Central Lafourche led 40-38 at the end of the third quarter
Statistical leaders: Central Lafourche -- Deanne Schouest (19 points), Chloe Babin (nine points); H.L. Bourgeois -- J'sa McGuire (14 points), Marianna Charles (13 points), Nashalie Dominguez (10 points)
Records: Central Lafourche (13-10 overall, 1-3 in district); H.L. Bourgeois (5-12 overall, 1-4 in district)
SOUTH TERREBONNE 68, SOUTH PLAQUEMINE 10 (at Bourg, nondistrict game)
Statistical leaders: South Terrebonne – Chloe Fleming (15 points), Beth LeBlanc (11 points), Allie Maddox (10 points), Blake Pellegrin (eight points)
Records: South Terrebonne (15-8); South Plaquemine (3-10)
VANDEBILT CATHOLIC 51, ACADEMY OF SACRED HEART-NEW ORLEANS 31 (at New Orleans, nondistrict game)
Score by quarters: Game was tied at 11 after the first quarter, Sacred Heart led 19-17 at halftime, and Vandebilt led 35-25 at the end of the third quarter.
Statistical leaders: Vandebilt– Amy Parrott (18 points, 18 rebounds, four steals, three assists, two blocks), Sydney Remont (nine points, six rebounds, two steals). Brittany Theriot (12 points, three rebounds, six steals), Leia Verrett (four points), Janey Cheramie (four points)
Records: Vandebilt (10-6 overall); Sacred Heart (7-8 overall)
ST. JAMES 48, LUTCHER 38 (at St. James, nondisrict game)
Score by quarters: St. James led 17-5 after the first quarter, 26-11 at halftime and 41-21 at the end of the third quarter
Statistical leaders: St. James – Lauryn Scott (22 points), Charity Cooper (11 points), Raevon Fletcher (10 points)
Records: St. James (9-6 overall); Lutcher (7-9 overall)
HOUMA CHRISTIAN 62, CENTRAL-BATON ROUGE 27 (at Baton Rouge, nondistrict game)
Score by quarters: Houma Christian led 21-9 after the first quarter, 41-13 at halftime and 55-17 at the end of the third quarter
Statistical leaders: Houma Christian – Dalesia Williams (15 points), Xariel Washington (13 points), Jordyn Marie (nine points)
Records: Houma Christian (17-2 overall); Central-Baton Rouge (11-6 overall)
COVENANT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 37, LUTHERAN 33 (at Metairie, nondistrict game)
Statistical leaders: CCA– Breionte Jasper (25 points)
Records: CCA (3-8 overall); Lutheran (2-4 overall)
--Compiled by Brent St. Germain/Sports Editor