Originally appeared in CrescentCitySports.com, 3/4/2020
PONCHATOULA, La. – The 10th-seeded Hahnville Tigers advanced to the quarterfinals of the LHSAA Class 5A playoffs by upsetting seventh-seeded Ponchatoula, 59-49, on the road Tuesday night, ending the Green Wave’s 15-game winning streak.
In the first quarter both teams felt each other out, taking three pointers early and often, while making few. Of the 10 baskets scored in the period, six were from beyond the arc.
Pontchatoula’s Ryan Elzy was the only player with any rhythm, scoring seven of the Wave’s 12 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Hahnville from grabbing a 14-12 lead.
After allowing two quick baskets to start the second quarter, Hahnville head coach Yusef Jasmine called a timeout. After utilizing a zone defense for most of the first quarter, the Tigers began to pressure the Green Wave backcourt. Hahnville close the quarter with a 14-5 run that featured baskets from six different players. The Tigers took a 28-22 lead into the half.
The second half started just as the first had ended. Hahnville came out of the locker room attacking the basket, with Ponchatoula defenders seemingly trapped in quicksand. Takourin Grows and Kaden Pierre led the way during a stretch that put the Tigers up by 12 points as the clock passed the midway point of the period.
But the Green Wave began to roll, sparked by a trapping defense and the trio of Elzy, Uland Thorn, and Jacoby Mathews. They scored 13 of Ponchatoula’s 16 points in the quarter and led a rally that carried into the fourth quarter.
With his team up 44-43 early in the fourth, Elzy was called for his fourth foul. When he went to the bench, the Ponchatoula offense ground to a halt and its defense fell apart.
Hahnville went into attack mode, and the Tigers were able to strike. Pierre had two massive dunks to punctuate the victory and send the Tigers into the next round.
Claudell Harris had 18 points to lead all scorers, including four three-pointers. Pierre, Takourin Grows, and Dylan Lorio scored 10 points each.
Elzy led Ponchatoula with 17 points. Thorn (15) and Mathews (11) also had double figures for the Green Wave.
Hahnville – which was one of five lower-seeded teams to win in the Class 5A bracket Tuesday night – will travel to No. 2 seed Ouachita Parish for a quarterfinal matchup Friday night.