Hoops on the Prairie

The 2015 Pine Prairie High Basketball Tournament tipped off on Wednesday. Games followed on Thursday and Friday, with the championship round slated for Saturday. Here is a look at two of the games featuring Evangeline Parish teams.
Pine Prairie (B)
vs. Plainview
After opening their own tournament with a 87-47 victory over the Sacred Heart Trojans on Wednesday, the Pine Prairie Panthers kept rolling on Thursday night with a 78-42 win over Class C program Plainview.
Pine Prairie (5-2) built up a 24-3 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.
Plainview (4-12) managed to keep up with Pine Prairie the final three quarters as the Hornets scored 39 points compared to the Panthers 41 but the first-quarter deficit was too much for Plainview to overcome.
“Pine Prairie jumped on us early and never looked back,” Plainview coach Elliott West said. “We are young and learning, but we have a long way to go. With hard work and determination, we will get there.”
Crowley (B) vs. Mamou
Led by a 35-point performance by Josh Burnett, the Crowley Gents defeated the Mamou Green Demons 75-60 at the Pine Prairie Tournament on Thursday. Crowley had won their opener at the tournament with a 67-63 win over David Thibodaux on Wednesday.
Crowley senior Paul Goodley though was the one that set the tone early as he scored six points in the opening period as the Gents ended the quarter with a 16-8 lead.
The second quarter is when Burnett exploded as he scored 16 of his game-high 35 points in that period.
Crowley (9-1) entered halftime with a 39-27 lead and held off Mamou in the second half for the victory.
Burnett led all scorers with 35 points, including five three-pointers, while Chris Osten added 14 for the Gents in the victory. Mamou (3-7) had three players in double figures led by Trey Wilson’s 18 points, while Russell Edwards added 16.