LAKE CHARLES — The one thing The Dunham School had to do was keep it close. Top-seeded Newman short-circuited that plan with a 16-2 second-quarter surge.
With Chris Lockett and Canin Jefferson leading the way, Newman ran away with a 63-41 victory over fourth-seeded Dunham in the Division III select semifinal game that opened LHSAA Boys State Basketball tournament action Tuesday.
“We have been a focused group. We guarded … holding them to 12 points in the (first) half was huge,” Newman coach Randy Livingston said. “It started with Canin’s on-ball defense, he got some deflections and then behind him we played defense the way we teach it every day.
“I think for the most part we did what we were supposed to do. When you’re the No. 1 seed you want to come in and set the tone.”
Lockett finished with a game-high 19 points, while Jefferson added 18 points, 9 deflections, 8 assists and 5 steals for the Greenies (24-3) in the game played Burton Coliseum. Newman plays third-seeded Calvary Baptist (25-5) in the Division III select final set for 2 p.m. Friday.
“We knew we had a tough task today for sure,” Dunham coach Chad Myers said. “I’m not sure we gave them our best shot. We did not play well, but they (Newman) had a lot to do with that.”
Mason Lavergne, who finished with 13 points, was the only player in double figures for Dunham (20-9). The Tigers had 13 turnovers and made just 30 percent of their shots (13 of 43).
The first quarter was close. Newman led by seven before Elijah Haven hit a 3-pointer with 1:03 left in the first period. The Greenies led 14-10 going into the second quarter.
Haven scored the lone Tiger basket in the second quarter. That basket made it 18-12 with 6:40 left in the half. Newman scored the final 12 points and controlled the game from there.
Livingston, the former Newman and LSU star, noted the significance of the win. Dunham beat Newman in the Division III final two years ago.
“I don’t believe in all the revenge stuff, but I believe it was good. We had not beaten them yet,” Livingston said. “It was good to get that feeling out of the way.”
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