New Iberia not only won the Baton Rouge City Soccer Tournament, it did so in a big way, as the Yellow Jackets steamrolled past five opponents by a combined score of 19-3.
Ranked 10th in Division I, New Iberia (12-3-3) proved more than worthy of its reputation as it blanked host Woodlawn in the tournament final, 3-0.
Sophomore Colby Delahoussaye, who recently moved from defense to forward, scored three second-half goals to spearhead the victory. Delahoussaye finished with six goals in the tournament. New Iberia placed second to East Ascension last year.
"We were so close last year to winning the tournament that it was extra motivation for us," New Iberia coach Kevin Hardy said. "We like coming here."
With good reason, too, given that Delahoussaye scored goals at 36, 51 and 54 minutes off assists from Seth Gary, Ryan Melancon and Zach Escuriex, respectively.
New Iberia goalkeeper Jordan Leblanc recorded five saves, while Woodlawn’s Ali Rohullah totaled seven. New Iberia advanced through the semifinals with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over St. Amant, while Woodlawn edged Baton Rouge Parkview Baptist, 2-1, after winning a shootout, 4-3.
The Yellow Jackets overcome a 2-0 halftime deficit against St. Amant, as Justin Fuselier scored twice on penalty kicks and Gary added the winning goal. Dutchtown won the junior varsity bracket with a 3-0 record. The Griffins capped their effort in the round-robin event with a 3-0 victory over Baton Rouge Catholic.
Wrestling: Catholic wins inaugural tournament
The first Deep South Bayou Duals tournament had a familiar winner, as perennial state power Baton Rouge Catholic emerged victorious. The two-day meet at Brusly featured 20 teams, including seven from out of state.
Catholic beat Collierville, Tenn., in the quarterfinals, 47-23, before stopping Lafayette Comeaux in the semifinals, 53-21, and Metairie Archbishop Rummel in the final, 34-24. Catholic’s Patrick Bourgoyne, who was voted Outstanding Wrestler in the upper weight classes, was one of seven Bears to win in their match with Rummel.
Bourgoyne pinned his opponent in 1 minute, 15 seconds. Wade Samaha (140), Trey Misuraca (145) and Roy Fontenelle (189) also scored pins. Rummel’s Mark Pinero was voted Outstanding Wrester in the lower weight classes after winning the 135-pound match with a pin in 2:22.
Boys basketball: Late surge lifts Sulphur
A 7-1 run to end the championship game allowed host Sulphur to turn back Dulles of Sugarland, Texas, 54-48, and win its first title in the three-year history of the Sulphur Holiday Classic.
After Dulles’ D’Angelo Harrison made three free throws to tie the game at 47-47 with 1:51 left, Tanner Kuykendall, Matt LeBato and Chip Armelin combined to convert 7 of 8 free throws in bringing Sulphur its 14th victory in 19 games. Dulles fell to 17-4.
"It’s a fantastic victory for our guys," Sulphur coach Clint LeBato said. "It’s our best win of the year, so far."
Sulphur’s Armelin and Dulles’ Harrison each scored a game-high 29 points. Armelin grabbed nine rebounds in just missing his third consecutive double-double. Teammate Donovan Williams collected nine rebounds in matching his scoring total.
Plaquemine enjoys holiday spirit
Plaquemine proved to be an inhospitable host for the other 14 teams in the Green Devil Holiday Basketball Classic, as it won the tournament title with a 39-35 victory over Hammond in the championship game.
Plaquemine forward DMarcus Veal was named tournament Most Valuable Player, while the Green Devils’ Danny Wright was voted Most Outstanding Coach. Jeffrey Ricard and Traveon Hawkins made the all-tournament team. Adonis Major earned Defensive Player of the Tournament accolades.
Ricard came off the bench to score 11 points as Plaquemine’s only double-figure scorer against Hammond. Hawkins added seven points and Major and Jeremy Jenkins each scored six.
Girls basketball: Southwood gives extra effort
Shreveport Southwood ran its record to 22-0 in winning the Doc Edwards Invitational, but it wasn’t easy, as the Lady Cowboys were forced into overtime before finally turning back Shreveport Byrd, 43-38.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Kayla Walker sent the game into overtime with a pair of free throws with 18.7 seconds left that tied the score in regulation, 36-36. Southwood had squandered a four-point lead, which was its largest in regulation.
"It was a great game between two great teams," Southwood coach Steve McDowell said. "Byrd fought really hard. You have to give them a lot of credit. But I thought we executed well in the fourth quarter and got some big stops late. We just scored a little more than they did tonight."
Walker scored the game’s final points on a pair of free throws with 27.2 seconds left in overtime. Kourtney Pennywell preceded that effort with a pair of free throws of her own with 49 seconds to play.
All-tournament selection Whitney Gaston-Loyd scored 13 points, including one on a free throw that gave the Lady Cowboys an early lead in overtime.
