By Marco Clark, exclusive to the Times
The Natchitoches Chiefs got a tough test at the Teepee Friday against their district foe, the ASH Trojans. The Chiefs got off to a slow start allowing the Trojans to get an early six-point lead. The Chiefs would not score any points until Brian White hit a floater in the lane to cut the ASH lead. After getting on the scoreboard, the Chiefs switched to a full court defense causing ASH to turn the ball over after inbounding the pass. Natchitoches Central’s Adrian Remo came up with the ball and passed to Calvin Carpenter for the lay-up. On the Trojans next possession they got past mid court, but pressure from the Chiefs caused Brandon Brown to make a bad pass out of bounds. Remo drove to the basket but was fouled. He went one for one at the line cutting the Trojan’s lead to one point.
ASH fared better on their next possession by not turning the ball over, but were unable to capitalize. Natchitoches Central held the Trojans to six points for the remainder of the first quarter while putting up 13. The second quarter started with Natchitoches Central inbounding to White. He advanced up the court and found Preylo open on the wing for two. ASH took possession of the ball, but the Chiefs switched back to their full court pressure defense which gave the Trojans fits all night causing turnover after turnover.
The Chiefs took over after an ASH pass sailed out of bounds giving them five on the night. Carpenter drove the lane drawing the defense to him then quickly passed the ball to an open White for 3 to push the Chiefs to an 18-6 lead. NCHS closed out the first half with a 35-16. Coming out of halftime ASH moved successfully up the court to put up points. Desmond McQuaire hit a long 3-pointer restoring lost confidence.
The Chiefs did not give up any ground, continuing to play hard on both ends of the court. Remo finished at the rim for two points with a lay-up keeping the Chiefs in front with a firm lead. The Trojans next possession was successful with another 3-pointer by Robert Drakes. White found Preylo open at the top of the key. He spotted a slashing Desmond Vaughn for the alley-oop pass and slam dunk that brought the crowd to their feet. ASH went on to outscore the Chiefs at the end of the third, but the Chiefs still had a commanding lead 52-34. At the start of the fourth, the Chiefs inbounded the ball to White who followed up with a pass Carpenter who drove the lane but was fouled.
Carpenter converted on both shots. The Trojans Datrell Holly took the inbound pass the length of the court for a lay-up to make the score 54-36. On the Chiefs’ next possession Remo found a streaking Vaughn to the rim for another rim shaking dunk. The Chiefs claimed a victory, 58-44. Next up for the #1 ranked Chiefs is a home playoff game against #32 ranked Ponchatoula Friday, Feb. 23.