LAKE CHARLES — Coaches sometimes tell teams to “tighten up” or fine tune fundamentals. That was not the issue for top-seeded Madison Prep.
The Chargers were tight and uncomfortable on offense in their Division II select semifinal game at the LHSAA boys state basketball tournament.
Archbishop Shaw’s zone defense worked to near perfection. But Jayce Depron scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the second half, powering Madison Prep to a 46-28 victory Thursday at Burton Coliseum.
“(It was) 14-10 at the half … we did not think that would happen,” Madison Prep coach Jeff Jones said. “They did a good job defensively in the first half. I thought we came out tight.
“Today was one of the worst offensive performances we have had all year. I told them in the locker room — unless you want to be some crying young men Saturday evening you have to play much better.”
With the win, Madison Prep (32-2) advances to play the Carver-Peabody winner in the Division II select final set for 2 p.m. Saturday.
Madison Prep made just 19 percent (5 of 26) of its first-half shots. The Chargers warmed up just enough to 31 percent (16 of 51).
The fact that fifth-seeded Shaw made just 23 percent of its shots (11 of 47) for the game was also a difference maker. To call it an offensive struggle for both teams is not an overstatement. Neither team made a 3-pointer and combined to go 0-for-26 behind the arc.
“I think we had a good game plan … I think we executed it,” Shaw coach Wesley Laurendine said. “I thought the zone really slowed them down.
“We just did not hit any shots. We had some good looks. I thought what we did was right, unfortunately the ball did not go in.”
MPA’s Depron made 2 of 8 in the first half and finished 8 of 19. He was the catalyst for the Chargers’ 18-8 fourth-quarter push to end the game.
Kameron Johnson led Shaw (22-6) with 12 points — 12 below his average. Johnson made 5 of 20 shots from the field.
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