By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — Coming off a dominant performance last week over Destrehan, No. 6 Ruston High (18-5) kept the intensity up for a blow out win Tuesday night at home over No. 11 South Lafourche (21-6) by a final score of 78-54 in front of a packed house in the Ruston Main Gym.
“I really feel like we defended well for about three quarters,” Ruston High acting-head coach Corey Deans said. “We gave up some shots in the fourth quarter, but the kids are having fun and playing loose and confident. I hope we can keep our intensity going. The guys have had a couple of really good, even great practices. The kids are really buying into what we’re trying to do, and they know that defense comes first.”
Ruston jumped out to a 6-0 lead early before South Lafourche picked up its first basket at the 5:45 mark of the first quarter. Ruston would then go on a 7-0 run over the next two minutes with baskets from Hudson and Malcolm, followed by a three-pointer from junior Zaterrion Sutton after a blocked shot by Hudson. With the Bearcats ahead 13-2, South Lafourche took a timeout to quell the run with 3:10 to play in the first quarter.
Ruston would get three more dunks for the remainder of the period — two by Hudson (including an alley-oop from Sutton) and one from junior Mason Delaney. The Tarps would score seven more points in the first, and Ruston led 19-9 going into the second quarter.
Senior C.J. Malone opened the second quarter with a three-pointer for the Bearcats to extend the lead to 22-9. After a pair of Tarp free throws, senior Joran Parker added another three-pointer with 5:54 to go in the half for a 25-11 lead. Sutton added another three-pointer shortly and put Ruston up 28-11.
Senior Fabian Stringfellow came off the bench shortly after and scored five quick Ruston points, putting Ruston up 33-13. Ruston would outscore South Lafourche 10-8 for the remainder of the second quarter and led 43-21 at the half with baskets from Parker, Malone, Hudson and two more from Stringfellow.
In the third quarter, senior Aidan Anding threw an alley-oop slam down with 7:20 on the clock to answer a made basket by South Lafourche. Hudson followed with a dunk shortly after, and Sutton got a layup on the next possession to go up 49-23. Senior Joran Parker added a three-pointer with 3:30 to go in the third, and Malcolm added another bucket for a 54-25 lead.
After a made free throw by Stringfellow, Bearcat senior Zheric Hill would knock down three three-pointers over the next four minutes of game time into the fourth quarter, putting Ruston up 66-32 with 7:05 to play.
At the 4:06 mark of the fourth, Deans subbed out the starters and seniors for some of the younger players to get playing time. Sophomore Braylon Knox would get five points, as did sophomore Jackson Murry.
Deans said he was particularly pleased with how both Stringfellow and Hill played coming off the bench and combining for 19 points.
“I look at those guys as our sixth and seventh starters,” Deans said. “They understand the assignment, and they are very confident. Whenever I get the chance to put them on the court, I know they’re going to play extremely hard on defense. Fabo (Stringfellow) is getting his confidence on offense and getting comfortable learning the set. He’s putting his head down and making plays happen.”
Sutton and Parker both led Ruston with 11 points apiece, while Stringfellow and Hudson both had 10 points. Hudson added nine rebounds, as well.
Ruston Hill will play the winner of the matchup between No. 3 Denham Springs and No. 14 Westgate.
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