Istrouma avenges loss to Plaquemine
e_SDLqSince the minute after we lost that game last month it was our intention to take it back and we did that. I think defensively we did a better job of keeping them off the boards and making them take tough shots.” MARVIN DOTSON, Istrouma coach
PLAQUEMINE -- Since losing a first-round District 6-4A game to Plaquemine High School at home last month, Istrouma boys basketball coach Marvin Dotson said his team had one thing in mind — pay back.
In order to get pay back, Dotson knew the Indians had to get back to fundamentals. Having brothers Marquise and Carvis Kaigler playing on the inside didn’t hurt any, either.
The Kaiglers, who each stand 6-foot-5, combined to score 19 points to help seventh-ranked Istrouma claim a 36-23 victory over Plaquemine in a game played at PHS Friday night.
“Since the minute after we lost that game last month it was our intention to take it back and we did that,” Dotson said. “I think defensively we did a better job of keeping them off the boards and making them take tough shots.
“And we were better offensively. We knew there wasn’t going to be a lot of scoring and we had to patient and make plays.”
Marquise Kaigler and Devin Bethely each had 10 points to lead Istrouma (21-6, 8-2). Carvis Kaigler scored six of his nine points in the fourth quarter, while Marquise Kaigler had five fourth-quarter points as Istrouma outscored the Green Devils 13-3.
Jessie Ward, who finished with 11 points, was the only double-figures scorer for Plaquemine (22-7, 6-3), which scored only 10 points in the final three quarters.
“I’ve said all along they (the Indians) are the most talented team in our league,” Plaquemine coach Denny Wright said. “Their height and athleticism is hard to match. I thought both teams played hard.
“I didn’t think we played defense particularly well in the third quarter. We had some missed assignments and they got some extra shots. We played hard, but in the end we didn’t make enough basketball plays.”
With Ward scoring six first-quarter points, Plaquemine got off to a fast start. Back-to-back baskets by Ward gave PHS an 8-2 lead during an intense eight minutes that showcased the defensive pressure of both teams.
Istrouma made 2-of-3 first-quarter shots. Four turnovers proved to be the undoing for the Indians. Deondre Philson, who had five first-quarter points, hit a 3-pointer that upped the Plaquemine lead to 13-6 at the 1:19 mark.
The Green Devils held the ball for all but six seconds of the final minute, only to turn the ball over. Derrick Thomas’ jumper at the buzzer got Istrouma within five, at 13-8.
Plaquemine scored the first basket of the second quarter on a layup by Louis Conerly at the 6:15 mark. That was about as good as it got for the Green Devils, who missed their other nine shots in the quarter. PHS’ only other scoring came on a free throw by Ward with 1:21 remaining.
By that time, Istrouma had outscored the Green Devils 10-2. Marquise Kaigler’s layup and an ensuing free throw gave the Indians their first lead at 16-15 with 2:31 left. Two free throws by Bethely helped Istrouma claim an 18-16 halftime lead.
The pace slowed even more in the third quarter, Plaquemine tied the game at 20-20 on a jumper from the left corner by Ward with 3:16 remaining.
Two free throws by Jamarcus Weatherspoon at the 2:40 mark but Istrouma ahead for good. The Indians took a 23-20 lead into the fourth quarter and upped it to eight in the first four and a half minutes. The Kaiglers each scored on a layup and Bethely added a free throw.
As the lead grew, the Indians opted to spread the floor. That made it easier to utilize their size inside.
“This one was big for us,” Istrouma’s Dotson said.