The Youngsville boys basketball team cruised to victory in the 2023 East Forest Tip-Off Tournament held Friday and Saturday in Marienville. Team members include, front row from left, Austin Connor, Nathan Lucks (all-tournament team), Ethan Beers, Rodney Rowland and Braydon Baker. Back row, from left, head coach Lonny Moore, Hudson Haight, Josh Pikna, Ollie Boozer, Cash Moore, Chris Edwards, Rylan Benton (tournament MVP) and assistant coach Jesse Benton. Photo submitted to the Times Observer

MARIENVILLE — One thing you can’t deny: the Youngsville Eagles come out of the gate strong.

Youngsville got 28 points from freshman phenom Rylan Benton and cruised to its second straight tip-off tournament victory with a 56-17 demolition of host East Forest on Saturday.

Benton scored 23 of his 28 points after intermission — including five 3-pointers in the third quarter alone — on his way to tournament MVP honors. Senior teammate Nathan Lucks added 15 points and was also named to the all-tournament team.

Benton and Lucks did most of the scoring but were joined in the scoring column by Ethan Beers with 8 points and Braydon Baker with 5 points.

The Eagles (2-0) led by nine after the opening stanza and had pushed the lead to 26-9 by halftime. After the break, Benton quickly put to rest any chance of an East Forest comeback, scoring 15 of Youngsville’s 16 points in the third quarter.

Youngsville will stay in county Tuesday when it visits Sheffield, looking to improve to 3-0 on the young season.

YOUNGSVILLE (56)

Cash Moore 0 0-2 0, Ethan Beers 3 2-4 8, Rylan Benton 10 2-2 28, Braydon Baker 2 0-2 5, Nathan Lucks 5 4-6 15, Rodney Rowland 0 0-2 0, Josh Pikna 0 0-0 0, Hudson Haight 0 0-0 0, Chris Edwards 0 0-0 0, Austin Connor 0 0-0 0, Ollie Boozer 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 8-18 56.

EAST FOREST (17)

Dasher 0 0-0 0, Kuntz 1 0-0 2, K. Custer 1 4-6 6, Bawden 3 0-0 6, Carll 1 0-2 2, Buss 0 0-0 0, D. Custer 0 1-2 1, Dietrich 0 0-2 0, Bayle 0 0-0 0, Busch 0 0-0 0, Whitton 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 5-12 17.

3-point goals– Benton 6, Baker, Lucks

Youngsville 14 12 16 14 — 56

East Forest 5 4 6 2 — 17