The Bulldogs held a 14-10 advantage after the first quarter, but the Eagles took the lead with six minutes to play in the second and never relinquished it as they outscored Tidioute 15-2 in the frame.

“This was a good team win,” Youngsville coach Jesse DeLoof said. “I was happy with the way we pushed and defended today”

Tidioute (5-3) got off to a good start, in front of a raucous contingent

of Bulldogs fans who made the short trip, as Ryan Williams drilled a deep 3-pointer for the first bucket of the game. Jared Veasey and Patrick Shields were able to match-up with Youngsville’s (5-5) Gage Hendrickson and the Bulldogs held a 7-6 advantage midway through the period. The Eagles took their first lead of the game, 8-7, with two minutes to go, but Williams nailed his second 3-pointer on the next possession to grab the lead right back. Youngsville tied it at 10, but Tidioute closed on a 4-0 run to hold the 14-10 edge heading to the second.

Austin Peterson hit a layup with 6:30 to go in the half that tied it at 14-14. The Eagles got a stop on the next Bulldogs possession and Hendrickson hit a spinning jumper and completed the 3-point play to put Youngsville ahead 17-14.

Tidioute’s Ryan Williams (30) passes to teammate Jared Veasey (32) during the first quarter of their game against Youngsville at Youngsville High School, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019.

A Veasey field goal, the Bulldogs’ only points in the quarter, brought Tidioute within 1 at 17-16, but that was as close as the Bulldogs would get for the rest of the game. Ethan Kesterholt hit a corner 3, then started a fast break with a steal to put Youngsville up 22-16 with just under four minutes to play in the half.

“EK has been a spark for us,” DeLoof said. “We expect good minutes from him every night.”

The Eagles were up 25-16 at the half.

“We were talking more (on defense),” Hendrickson said about the change from the first quarter to the second. “We wore them down.”

Maison Deloe started the third quarter with a 3-pointer for the Bulldogs, but the Eagles began running a quick transition game with Brady Olewine streaking down the court for layups and/or fouls as the Eagles pushed the lead to 37-24.

Tidioute’s Jared Veasey (32) looks to pass to a teammate after securing the ball in a scrum with Youngsville’s Brady Olewine (43) and Nyko Mercado (55) during the second quarter of their game at Youngsville High School, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019.

“When we run our press, it puts pressure on them physically and mentally,” Hendrickson said. “They have to make twice as many passes and it leads to turnovers.”

The pressure and transition worked well, especially for Olewine who scored eight of his game-high 16 points in the third.

“That’s how we want to play,” DeLoof said. “We’re seeing glimpses of that ability to play fast. But it all starts with getting stops on defense.”

Youngsville extended the lead to 41-27 after three quarters.

Tidioute tried to get back in it quickly as Williams and Sheilds put up multiple 3-pointers, but none were falling early. Williams got a pair late, but the Eagles had a comfortable 20-point lead by that point.

Youngsville’s Brady Olewine (43) sky's for a layup just in front of Tidioute’s Maison Deloe (0) during the second half of their game at Youngsville High School, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Olewine finished with a game-high 16 points and the Eagles rolled to a 56-35 win over the Bulldogs.

Hendrickson had a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds, despite being matched up with Veasey and Shields for most of the game.

“I just have to get my head right and know what I have to do,” Hendrickson said about the matchup.

“He’s starting to play like the player he is and asserting himself,” DeLoof said. “Every time he steps on the floor he can be the best player. He’s already one of the best defenders and he does a great job in transition getting the ball out quickly. We make him do a little bit of everything for us.”

Joe Mack also finished in double figures with 11 points.

Williams had a team-high 15 points for the Bulldogs, all on 3-pointers. Veasey added 12 points.

Tidioute will have its first Region 1 contest of the season when the Bulldogs host Commodore Perry Thursday.

The Eagles get the first crack though as they host that same Panthers team Monday. Youngsville, already with the most wins in a season since 2005-2006, is looking to win its third straight and hit the midpoint of the season with a winning record. DeLoof hopes the Eagles can get the same level of community support against an opponent without a local connection.

“We’d love to have more of the community come out,” he said. “The crowd today was great.”

Youngsville won the junior varsity game, 51-19.

Dominic Dell had a game-high 12 points for the Eagles. Damien Upton added 10 and Xavier Mowrey nine in the win.

Sean Moyer led the Bulldogs with six points.

– – –

TCCS (35)

Williams 5-0-0-15, Veasey 6-0-1-12, Deloe 2-0-2-5, Shields 1-0-0-3, Klos 0-0-0-0, Sabella 0-0-0-0, Merrit 0-0-0-0, Kennedy 0-0-0-0, Team 14-0-3-35

Youngsville (56)

Olewine 6-4-4-16, Hendrickson 4-7-7-15, Mack 4-3-4-11, Kesterholt 1-3-4-6, Bower 2-0-0-4, Peterson 1-0-0-2, Mercado 1-0-0-2, Dell 0-0-0-0, Proctor 0-0-0-0, Mowrey 0-0-0-0, Team 19-17-19-56

By quarters

TCCS 14 2 11 8 – 35

Youngsville 10 15 16 15 – 56

3-point FGs: TCCS (7) – Williams 5, Shields, Deloe. Youngsville (1) – Kesterholt.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News
• Obituaries

Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

• Yes
• No