After an up and down start to the season, Destrehan’s boys basketball team has found its stride, the Wildcats stacking up four straight victories before moving on to this week’s East Ascension tournament.
Last season, coach Todd Bourg’s team looked like a team on the rise in District 7-5A, pushing each team in the district even in games the Wildcats lost—those losses often came by very close margins. This season’s squad is off to a 6-4 start and has again proven to be a tough team to put away. Of DHS’ four losses, two have come by one (Slidell and Lutcher), the others by six (De La Salle) and seven (H.L. Bourgeois), the latter in the finals of the Woodlawn tournament. Those four opponents have posted a combined record of 23-8 so far.
Bourg said the Wildcats are moving in the right direction, and that ultimately, his team’s success will come down to learning to execute down the stretch in its biggest games, particularly at the defensive end.
“We’re still kind of young,” Bourg said. “We have two seniors and a junior, and the rest are sophomores and freshmen. We’re starting to come together right now. We’ve been making those young mistakes that come with the territory, and its cost us in some of these close losses. We need to make some defensive improvement, as that’s where we’ve struggled a bit.”
David Green was Destrehan’s All-District representative last season. The 6’1 junior forward keys his team’s offense through his versatility, showing an ability to score both inside and outside. Green has led the Wildcats in scoring in six of the team’s 10 games so far, building on his sophomore success.
“He’s very athletic and can do a whole lot of things for you,” Bourg said. “He and Trey Jones have really taken the lead for us.”
Jones, the Wildcats’ senior point guard, has done a fine job keeping everyone involved and communicating with his teammates, Bourg said.
“Getting great leadership from your senior guard is key,” Bourg said. “He’s stepped up to the challenge.”
Bourg said he believes the Wildcats’ calling card this season will be a disciplined offense that puts pressure on teams from all areas.
“When we’re shooting well (from the outside), we’re very tough to stop and tough to beat,” Bourg said.
Destrehan’s recent win streak saw the Wildcats fell the likes of Lakeshore, Clark, Ponchatoula and Albany, the latter coming at home over a team that went 26-8 last season and has wins over Slidell, Walker and St. Amant this season.
In the Albany win, Lionel Maxon scored 16 points and Trey Jones scored 13 to lead DHS in a balanced effort. J.R. Blood scored nine points and Green and Devin Edwards each added eight.
Destrehan began play at the East Ascension tournament today, with other strong teams like Barbe, Lutcher, West Jefferson and host East Ascension promising to test the Wildcats in potential matchups.
“It should tell us a lot about where we are right now,” Bourg said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Destrehan will face John Ehret on the road next Tuesday. The Wildcats’ next home game will be Dec. 22 against Salmen, last year’s Class 4A runner-up.
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