GALLIANO – The Assumption Mustangs took an 11-point lead in the first quarter and basically held that lead the rest of the game, taking a 67-56 District 7-4A win over the South Lafourche Tarpons Friday.

Assumption came out strong, scoring mostly from inside, where it dominated play throughout the game. The Mustangs jumped out to a 9-2 lead and ended the first quarter up 17-6.

Matt Bellanger (eight points) and Jonathan Vega (eight points) hit back-to-back 3-pointers for the Tarpons closing the lead to five. But Assumption countered with a 10-3 run putting the Mustangs up by 12.

Bellanger and Vega each hit another 3-pointer each, cutting Assumption’s lead to 30-20 at the end of the first half.

“We work on the first three minutes of the first quarter and the third quarter,” Assumption coach Derek Szush said. “That’s why we keep winning these games. We made adjustments in the first quarter. The game plan was to come out and pressure and play our style and not their style. I think we executed real well tonight, especially in a place like this. South Lafourche always has a good crowd, and never let the crowd get into it.”

The two teams came out in the third quarter and matched basket for basket, with Assumption scoring on eight straight possessions and the Tarpons scoring on six of eight. But South Lafourche could never cut into the lead, trailing 49-36 at the end of three quarters.

“We settled down a bit after that first quarter,” South Lafourche coach Brian Callais said. “We knew they wanted to come out fast and take the crowd out of the game. We told our guys we needed to start fast, and we just didn’t do it. But we settled down and in the second half we got on some shooters, and that helped us, but we just got killed on the boards.”

Steven McBride led Assumption with 15 points. Josh Ratcliff had 14 points, while Jacoby Brown and Dongel Washington each had 13 points.

South Lafourche’s DeMarcus Caine led all scorers with 17 points, while Luke Chiasson had 14 points for the Tarpons.

South Lafourche held a ceremony at halftime, honoring the school’s 1998 Class 5A state championship team on its 20th anniversary.

SOUTH LAFOURCHE 69, ASSUMPTION 37 (GIRLS)

At Galliano, the Lady Tarpons started slowly, but a 24-0 run that ate up almost eight minutes of clock blew the game open giving South Lafourche a District 7-4A win over Assumption Friday.

Assumption led 7-6 halfway through the first quarter, but South Lafourche’s pressure defense forced four consecutive backcourt turnovers, and University of New Orleans signee Traya Bruce, who had 19 of her game-high 29 points in the first quarter, scored on each one, including two 3-pointers that put the Lady Tarpons up 21-7.

The run continued into the second quarter. Assumption’s Tajah Griffin (nine points) finally broke the drought with five and a half minutes left in the half, making it 33-8.

South Lafourche led 40-19 at halftime and 56-33 at the end of three quarters.

Victorianna Nelson had 14 points for South Lafourche, while Kyzha Jackson chipped in nine points.

Ra’von Robertson led Assumption with 16 points.

FRIDAY’S BOYS BASKETBALL CAPSULES

THIBODAUX 68, TERREBONNE 33 (at Thibodaux, District 7-5A game)

Score by quarter: Thibodaux led 16-9 after the first quarter, 31-15 at halftime and 52-26 at the end of the third quarter.

Statistical leaders: JaQuan Wagner 21 points, Kyren Lacy (10 points), Corey Johnson (nine points), Kobi Johnson (nine points)

Records: Thibodaux (18-6 overall; 7-2 in district); Terrebonne (8-18 overall; 0-8 in district)

ELLENDER 73, VANDEBILT CATHOLIC 58 (at Houma, District 7-5A game)

Score by quarter: Ellender led 21-9 after the first quarter, 40-20 at halftime and 63-30 at the end of the third quarter.

Statistical leaders: Ellender – Marquie Mosely (25 points), Kobe Hartman (10 points, 12 rebounds), Doryan Price (12 points), Davarin Brown (10 points)

Records: Ellender (9-13 overall, 2-0 in district); Vandebilt (5-7 overall, 0-3 in district).

E.D. WHITE CATHOLIC 48, ARCHBISHOP HANNAN 46 (at Covington, nondistrict game)

Score by quarter: E.D. White led 15-6 after the first quarter, it was tied at 22 at halftime and Hannan led 34-29 at the end of the third quarter.

Statistical leaders: E.D. White – Peyton Amedee (19 points), Charles Brady (12 points)

Records: E.D. White (5-14 overall); Hannan (9-15 overall)

DONALDSONVILLE 46, ST. JAMES 36 (at St. James, District 10-3A game)

Statistical leaders: St. James – Devonne White (10 points), Jarvis Moll (five rebounds), Jarvis Moll (four steals)

Records: Donaldsonville (10-14 overall, 4-1 in district); St. James (11-13 overall, 1-4 in district)

COVENANT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 45, ST. MARTIN’S EPISCOPAL 34 (at Houma, District 8-1A game)

Score by quarters: CCA led 13-11 after the first quarter, 17-15 at halftime and 28-25 at the end of the third quarter.

Statistical leaders: CCA – Anthony Ruffin (15 points), Dakarai Johnson (14 points)

Records: CCA (16-6 overall, 4-0 in district); St. Martin’s (15-9 overall, 2-2 in district)

VARNADO 64, HOUMA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 61 (at Varnado, District 8-1A game)

Statistical leaders: Houma Christian – Trent Washington (29 points), Tré Washington (18 points)

Records: Varnado (8-10 overall, 2-1 in district); Houma Christian (13-9 overall, 3-2 in district)

--Compiled by sports writer Kelly McElroy.