February 2, 2005

Destrehan doubles down winless Patriots

Five Wildcats score in double-digits in victory over Ellender

By Eric LeBlanc
Sports Editor
(Photo by ERIC LEBLANC)

The Ellender Patriots were a team without a win in their matchup against Destrehan on Friday night, but they were not a team without a heart. The Patriots kept pace with the Wildcats and played above their record until the Wildcats kicked it up a notch in the second half and won handily 66-56.

All five Destrehan starters broke into double-digits in the game with Dennis Ellsworth leading the pack with 16 points and three steals. Trey Montgomery followed with 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Brandon Rogers was the only Wildcats to score a double-double as he led the team in rebounds with 11 while scoring 12 points. Larry Pounds pounded in 11 points while James Flower rounded out the five with 10 points and six rebounds.

Ellender ran off to an early led in the first quarter. Montgomery led the Wildcats with six points in the first while Pounds had five. But at the end of the quarter, the Patriots led 20-17.

The Ellender lead did not last through the half. Destrehan came back with a vengeance in the second quarter, led by Ellsworth who scored 11 points. And going into the half, the Wildcats held a 36-27 lead.

The Wildcats extended that lead in the third quarter. Rogers stepped up with eight points while Flower chipped in six to put Destrehan up 52-39 at the end of three.

The fourth quarter found Ellender surging, but the Wildcats held them off as Montgomery led the team with six points while Pounds put in four before leaving with an injury.

Rounding out the scoring for Destrehan was Brandon Brexton with three points.

With the victory, the Wildcats improve to 7-3 in district and 21-8 overall. Destrehan will next host East St. John on Friday at 7 p.m.

Eric LeBlanc can be reached at EricL@heraldguide.com or at (985) 758-2795, ext. 219.