DHS Wildcats eliminated from 5A state playoffs

Boys basketball team loses to Lafayette, 50-48

The Destrehan Wildcats boy’s basketball team was eliminated from the Class 5A state playoffs after Lafayette’s Josh Wiltz hit a jumper as time expired to give his team a 50-48 quarterfinal victory.

Though Destrehan went on to suffer the defeat, they were actually in control for a majority of the game.

The team turned a slim 5-4 first quarter lead into a 17-12 margin at halftime, and then went into the final quarter with a 36-29 advantage.

However, No. 2 seeded Lafayette outscored the Wildcats 21-12 in the final period to come away with the victory.

Arsenio Francis led Lafayette to the win by knocking in 16 points. Xaxier Francis added 12 and Todd Young chipped in with 12.

Destrehan’s Wynrick Smothers was the game’s top scorer with 19 points. Roosevelt Johnson and Dwayne Brown each had 10 points.

Destrehan had punched their ticket to the quarterfinals after outmanning Sulphur 71-52 in last week’s Class 5A regionals.

The Wildcats had four players finish in double figures during that contest, with Johnson netting 19 points in the win.

Noland Sharpe had 13 points, Darrow Barnes finished with 12 and Brown added 11.