Destrehan boys basketball coach Todd Bourg is excited about his team’s prospects for the prep basketball season, and who can blame him?
The Wildcats bring back all but two players from last year’s young postseason qualifier that went 18-13. But perhaps an even better indication came this summer, when the Wildcats went 9-1 against a summer slate played over two camps, one at Chalmette and one at E.D. White. Destrehan secured wins over Jesuit, Brother Martin and E.D. White over their 10 game schedule.
“We’ve only got two seniors again this season, so we’ll be young again,” Bourg said. “We’ve got some good young kids coming up, and we’ve got some big kids now. I think the next three or four years are looking pretty good for us.”
Among Destrehan’s returning impact players is David Green, a junior swingman who led the Wildcats in scoring last season.
“He can play inside and outside,” Bourg said. “He’s a very good all-around player.”
Cedric Jones and Lionel Maxon join him to form a trio Bourg believes should generate the bulk of the team’s scoring.
Senior shooter Trey Jones should also be a factor. And 6-foot-five center Michael Caesar joins the mix this season, adding size and further reason for optimism.
“Last year we were probably among the smallest teams in our district,” Bourg said. “This year we may actually be one of the bigger teams.”
The Wildcats were an entertaining ticket, for sure, during last district season. Close games were the norm: they played eight games decided by four points or less, five of those by just one or two points.
“It’s a battle every night, and I have no reason to believe it’ll be any different this year,” Bourg said. “We got into the playoffs last year and drew a strong Helen Cox team that was seeded second. We played in a lot of very tight games and gained experience. We learned how to win when it’s close. That’s always a good thing to have with a young team.”
With the exception of South Lafourche, District 7-5A will mirror that of the last two years, the teams including H.L. Bourgeois, Central Lafourche, Destrehan, East St. John, Hahnville, Terrebonne and Thibodaux.
Bourg said his team’s balance should also be a major strength. While some teams feature one or two players to drive the offense, he said the Wildcats cannot be shut down if just one player has an off night.
“It’s not as simple as keying in on one guy defensively,” he said. “We feel like, on a given night, we have six or seven kids who can go off and lead us.
“As far as a district title goes, it’ll be a tough fight. East St. John is always good. Central Lafourche was strong again last season and won our district. There are no easy games. I look forward to the challenge.”
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