Russell Hedges
rhedges@bossierpress.com
Louisiana New Tech at Plain Dealing and Bossier were the only Bossier Parish teams to survive the first round in the boys’ division of the “Doc” Edwards Invitational Thursday.
The Class 1A Lions pulled a bit of a surprise with a 54-49 victory over Class 5A Parkway at Benton Middle School.
New Tech (8-4) faces undefeated and tournament favorite Huntington in the quarterfinals today at 5:30 p.m. at Airline.
Huntington (11-0) knocked off Haughton 70-32 in a first-round game at BPCC.
Bossier rolled past Red River 60-39 in its opener at Airline.
The Bearkats (8-5) take on North Webster in the quarterfinals at 5:30 today at Benton High.
The winner of that game faces Green Oaks, a 63-53 winner over Airline, in the semifinals at 8:30 at Airline. The other boys’ semifinal will also be played at 8:30 at BPCC.
The championship game is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the CenturyLink Center.
The New Tech-Parkway game was close throughout with the Lions taking a 25-20 halftime lead.
New Tech’s Tray Harris puts up a shot during the Lions’ victory over Parkway Thursday.
New Tech led by as many as eight early in the second half, but Parkway tied it on back-to-back 3-pointers by Gabe Decuir with 2:20 left in the third.
The Panthers grabbed a four-point lead on two Johnson free throws with about five minutes left in the game.
But New Tech rallied and the game remained tight. It was tied for the last time at 48 on another Johnson free throw at the 1:03 mark.
Tray Harris gave the Lions the lead for good with a soft, one-handed shot from the baseline with 34 seconds left.
Ja’Carlius Stromile’s steal and layup with gave New Tech a four-point cushion.
Harris led the Lions (8-4) with 14 points. Keldrick Carper added 13, and Stromile had 10.
Johnson was the only Panther in double-figure scoring with 10. 2012 All-Parish guard Brodrick Jefferson, playing in his first game after sitting out because of a football knee injury, scored nine. William McKnight also had nine.
It was the Panthers’ first loss in three tries since the return of the football players.
Bossier (8-5) got 15 points from Kentrell Hardy 12, from Devonte Hall and Lajerico Moss, and 10 from Malik Dunn in its win over Red River.
Airline hung with Green Oaks for three quarters, trailing by only 39-37 going into the fourth. But the Giants pulled away in the fourth.
Anthony Gladney led the Vikings with 12 points. Tyrice Neal had 10 and Tristan Wallis added nine.
PJ Douglas paced Haughton in its loss to Huntington with 14 points. Javonte Woodard had 10.
Peter Moore topped Benton with 11 points in the Tigers’ loss to North Webster.
In consolation games late Thursday, Parkway rebounded for a 73-57 victory over Mansfield, and Benton dropped an 88-81 decision to Red River.
Jefferson led the Panthers (3-5) with 15 points and Johnson had 12.
Patrick Edmonds and Tanner Craft scored 16 each for Benton. Rudy Davis added 13.
