Downing scores 17 after halftime to lead Tigers; Wildcats bounce back to beat Thibodaux, earn district crown
One streak ended at Hahnville Wednesday, while another was extended.
Hahnville brought rival Destrehan’s 12-game winning streak to a close, rallying from 12 down to capture a 60-58 victory in Boutte.
The win was the Tigers’ fourth in a row.
“Energy,” said Dilon Friloux, who helped key a Tigers defense that turned the game in the second half. “We started off slow, but we know what we’re capable of.”
HHS (14-15, 3-3) trailed 29-17 in the first half and then, after closing the gap to two by halftime, again 37-28 in the third quarter. Kaden Downing’s 12 third quarter points, however, helped Hahnville pull ahead 43-42 entering the fourth quarter.
Destrehan (22-9, 5-1) began the final quarter with a quick flurry. Koby Llewellyn’s basket-and-one for a three-point play gave Destrehan a 48-43 lead.
Downing answered with a drive and score, then Tyler Martin scored in the post to pull HHS within one. Keenan Brown scored for Destrehan to push it to three, but then Lionel Irons scored on an assist from Dilon Friloux. A Destrehan turnover on a travel led to Friloux sinking a go-ahead jump, then Downing scored on the block on HHS’ next possession to make it a three-point lead.
The Tigers forced another DHS turnover on a long inbounds pass, then Irons scored in transition on a pass from Torrey Smith to push the lead to five with just over a minute left.
A 3-pointer by Trevez Walker pulled Destrehan within two, but Hahnville kept the pressure on. Martin scored three points via a free throw and a layup, the latter coming after HHS forced a turnover via a tie-up.
A Sergie Williams putback got Destrehan back within three with 23 seconds left, but time wasn’t on the Wildcats’ side, and a late steal and free throws by Hahnville effectively closed the door on a DHS comeback.
Downing scored 17 to lead Hahnville – all points coming in the second half. Irons scored 12 while Martin and Smith each scored 10.
Walker and Kolby Payton led Destrehan (22-9) with 16 points each. Brown added nine.
“I was concerned (Tuesday) with it being Mardi Gras … I said, ‘I need y’all locked in.’ We came in and did a shootaround today … in the first half, we were just nervous,” said Hahnville head coach Erica Randolph. “And you expect that with a younger group, in front a big crowd … in the second half, I told them hey, the first half’s gone. I need you to go turn up and play.
“KD (Downing) went from no points to (17 points). He’s a second-half kind of player. We want the ball in his hands. He facilitates the offense.”
With the playoffs around the corner, the win should give Hahnville a solid boost in seeding potential – as well as a playoff kind of atmosphere for the team’s sophomore-heavy rotation to experience at the perfect time of year for it.
“I love a good rivalry game,” said Randolph. “Not everybody gets a chance to experience this type of atmosphere, so we should embrace that. And like I told them, this is the kind of game you’re going to talk about in the barber shop forever.”
For Destrehan, the loss was a tough one to endure as it had aspirations to go unbeaten in District 8-5A play, and the Wildcats were in control at key points.
“It comes down to poise. I think we fumbled our poise a little bit there in the first half. We were able to regain control. Then, again, we let it go,” said Destrehan head coach Khary Carrell. “A game like this, Battle on the River, emotions on your sleeve … we talked about it all week. Have to be under control and not try to overdo it because of this kind of atmosphere.”
Carrell said the Wildcats took some bad shots and made a few mistakes they couldn’t afford to as the Tigers made their rally.
“Hats off to Coach Erica and her guys. They rallied, they didn’t give up. They did a great job,” Carrell said.
DESTREHAN 52, THIBODAUX 45 – Destrehan did not allow the Hahnville loss to carry over into its next game two days later – and as a result, the Wildcats earned the District 8-5A championship.
Destrehan defeated Thibodaux at Destrehan on Friday night, resulting in a tie atop the standings between the two teams as each team had just one loss in 8-5A play. District bylaws determine head-to-head as the tiebreaker for the district crown.
Thibodaux led 16-8 after the first quarter, but Destrehan turned the tide from there. The Wildcats held THS to 26 points in the second half and took control in the fourth quarter.
It is Destrehan’s first district championship since the 2021-22 season.
