Bogalusa broke a 33-33 tie with a 3-pointer late in the first half and the Lumberjacks went on a run to begin the second half in a 77-56 victory over Independence in a District 7-3A home game held Tuesday.
The game was tied at 33-33 late in the first half when Tramarcus Levi passed to Timahj Peyton. Peyton nailed the 3-pointer with three seconds left and the Lumberjacks went into the locker room with a 36-33 halftime lead.
The momentum from Peyton’s shot seemed to carry over into second half, as the Lumberjacks began the third quarter by going on an 11-2 run.
Levi passed to B.J. Mingo on the first possession for two. Thomas Turner made it a three-possession game with a bucket. Independence stopped the run momentarily when De’angelo Gaines made a field goal, trimming it to 40-35 with 6:09 on the clock.
But Bogalusa responded by scoring the next seven points. Laster Hills scored the first five by hitting a 3-pointer and knocking down two free throws and Mingo drove in for a layup.
Bogalusa led 47-35 with 4:58 left in the third quarter.
“They bunkered down, they listened to what our coaches had to say and we slowed the ball down,” Bogalusa coach Ken Matthews said. “Like I told them, we don’t have to be in a rat race going up-and-down the court. Just run our offense, get four-to-seven passes and it worked really well.”
After the run to start the second half, the closest Independence got was nine, which happened twice at 54-45 to begin the fourth quarter and 55-46 with 5:40 left.
After Independence got it to 55-46, the Lumberjacks put up six in a row on their way to the 21-point victory.
Hills scored a game-high 21 points that included three 3-pointers.
Turner put up 18 while Mingo and Levi tallied 14 each. Levi hit a three.
Dominique Tillman scored seven points while Peyton had three. Peyton hit a 3-pointer.
Bogalusa is 16-10 overall and 5-1 in district play. The Lumberjacks are 25th in the unofficial Class 3A power rankings.
Bogalusa is back in action with a road game against Albany on Monday before returning home to close out the regular season against Amite on Thursday, Feb. 9.
Melvin Baker topped the Tigers with 12 points.
Gaines and Jadarrius Jackson recorded 10 each. Gaines hit a pair of threes.
Genord Perry and Jeanquel Holmes had eight each while Anthony Mcclain posted five and Antonio Hampton added three. Hampton’s three was on a 3-pointer.
Independence is 9-13 overall and 2-4 in district. Independence is 38th in the unofficial Class 3A power rankings.