The Natchitoches Central Chiefs get a decisive victory against the Yellow Jackets of New Iberia Friday night at the Tee Pee punching their ticket for the Final Four. The number 8 seed Yellow Jackets rolled into Natchitoches with a large fan base accompanying them to cheer them on in hopes of return home with a victory. At the start of the game New Iberia scored the first two points of the game after winning the opening tip-off. Natchitoches Central’s first possession did not have the same outcome, with their first shot being partially blocked by a New Iberia player, New Iberia would capitalize on NCHS turnover scoring two points on a fast break lay-up giving the Yellow Jackets a four-point lead. The Chiefs would have success on their next possession with Brain White hitting a short jumper in the lane to cut into New Iberia’s slim lead 4-2. The Chief rallied back to take a one point of lead 8-7 at the end defensive first quarter battle.
The second quarter for the Chiefs started the way the first quarter did with Brain White hitting the first shot for two points extending the Natchitoches Central lead 10-7. On New Iberia’s first possession of the second quarter the Chiefs switched to a full court press causing the Yellow Jackets to turn the ball over giving the Chief an opportunity to score again and they did exactly that, NCHS Calvin Carpenter received the outlet pass from Adrian Remo, to score on a three-point shot pushing the Chiefs lead to 13-7. But the Chiefs were not finished, on the next possession for New Iberia the Chiefs Adrian Remo deflected a pass by the Yellow Jackets Ralph Johnson. Desmond Vaughn picked up the loose ball finding a streaking Brain White for the easy lay-up putting the Chiefs up by eight points in a time span of 1:14. New Iberia head coach Todd Russ saw enough and called a timeout in hopes of calming his team down. Coming out of the timeout the Yellow Jackets Alex Manoeville hit a three-pointer to breathing life back into New Iberia, but it was too little to late the Chiefs would go on to close out the second quarter with a 10-point lead 31-21.
New Iberia fared better in the third quarter outscoring the Chiefs 15-10, making the score 51-36 in favor of the Chiefs. At the start of the fourth quarter coach Micah Coleman reinserted his starters to bring the victory home for Natchitoches Central with the final score of 65-50. This victory sends Natchitoches Central back to Final Four for an opportunity to bring home the Chiefs Third State Championship. Up next the Chiefs will face the Wildcats of Walker in the semifinals at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, LA Monday March 5.
