JOURNAL SPORTS
Improving to 10-0 in Red River Athletic Conference competition, the LSU Shreveport basketball teams swept Saturday’s doubleheader at North American, although the No. 25-ranked men’s team had a close call.
Centenary’s men nearly captured two Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference road games, getting their first conference win Friday at McMurry before getting edged Sunday at Schreiner. The Ladies fell twice.
Bossier Parish Community College suffered through 39 free throws by Lamar State College-Port Arthur and dropped a Region XIV visit to the Gulf Coast.
LSUS SWEATS, BUT SWEEPS: In Stafford, Texas, on Saturday, the Pilots men’s basketball team escaped with an 84-81 victory over North American, rising to 13-3 overall while the Stallions fell to 9-6 and 5-5 in conference play. LSUS overcame a nine-point first-half deficit by hitting 51 percent overall.
North American pulled within one twice in the final minute. Hayden Brittingham, who scored 26 points, tipped in a miss with 34 seconds left and after the Stallions scored to make it 82-81 with 20 seconds to go, Emareyon McDonald hit the second of a two-shot free throw chance with eight seconds remaining and LSUS forced a missed three-pointer before a Thaddeus Johnson free throw in the final second finished the scoring.
Brittingham recorded his seventh double-double of the season by adding 14 rebounds, also posting six assists, three steals, and two blocks. McDonald, Johnson ad Alexzaye Johnson each added 13 points, while Khi Wallace contributed 12.
The LSUS women notched a wire-to-wire 81-61 victory to climb to 14-2 overall, while North American slipped to 6-5 and 4-5 in conference action.
LSUS never trailed and led 41-25 at halftime. The Pilots’ defense forced 24 North American turnovers, which LSUS converted into 35 points.
LSUS pushed the lead to as many as 27. Selma Markisic led all players with 27 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Paula Gonzales Herrero added 15 points, seven rebounds and Sami Slusarek scored 14.
LSU Shreveport returns home to The Dock for two games this week, Thursday and Saturday, first hosting Our Lady of the Lake in a 5:30/7:30 twinbill.
BEVERLY SHINES FOR CENTENARY: The Centenary men’s team got a big weekend from senior guard Quentin Beverly, who scored 30 Friday night on the road as the Gents topped McMurry 94-89, then added 27 Sunday in a 68-65 loss at Scheiner.
The Gents (2-10, 1-3 SCAC) trailed by seven late in Sunday’s game but fell just short of a winning comeback. Beverly passed the career 1,000-point mark.
The Ladies (2-10, 1-3) lost 64-32 Sunday at Schreiner and 85-34 Friday night at McMurry.
Centenary has another Texas two-game swing next weekend before finally getting home to the Gold Dome on Jan. 20.
BOSSIER PARISH CC: The Cavaliers got 24 points by Tony Montgomery Saturday at Port Arthur (9-6, 3-4), but were outscored by 15 at the free throw line in a 90-81 Region XIV loss.
“We are right there – just making a lot of freshman mistakes,” said first-year BPCC coach Jeff Moore, whose roster has 11 freshmen. “We will get over the hump.”
Drew Cooper scored 15 and Dustin Welch 11 for BPCC (8-7, 2-5) which dropped its fifth straight. The Cavs are home Wednesday night against Lee College.