The LaGrange Gators gave the Natchitoches Central Chiefs their best punch early Thursday evening, but it wouldn’t be enough as the defending Class 5A state champions would eventually pull away for a 65-37 win to advance in the 2014 Iberia Bank Holiday Hoops Invitational at Barbe High School.

“Any win, especially on the road, is a good win,” Natchitoches Central head coach Micah Coleman said. “To get the rust off after a long ride is good. LaGrange is a good team, so to get a win is good for us.”

The Chiefs (10-0) will play Sulphur tonight at 8 p.m. for a chance to go to the semifinals.

For the young Gators (5-7) squad they move to the consolation side of the bracket where they meet Comeaux today at 6:30 p.m. in gym two.

“Hats off to Natchitoches Central, anytime you play the defending 5A state champions you know you have your work cut out for you and they did a heck of a job,” LaGrange head coach Nathaniel Perry said. “There are some things we need to work on in practice and we are still learning. Hopefully we can use this game as a lesson learned and get back to work.”

The Chiefs rushed out to a 7-0 lead early in the game behind three early buckets from Austin Guy, but the Gators fought back behind six first quarter points from Ephraim Price to end the first frame trailing 16-14.

“We made a lot of mistakes early, but as the game progressed we kept the ball in front of us and played our game,” Coleman said.

In the second quarter the Chiefs began to pull away behind the post presence of Guy and 6-9 all-state selection Cameron Lard.

Lard would finish the game with 20 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double. Guy finished with 13 points and six rebounds.

“You can’t teach size,” Perry said. “They did a good of coming in and getting into good positions.”

Price led LaGrange in scoring with 13 points while J’Son Brooks added 10 points and six rebounds.

Barbe won its tournament opener over Cicilia and will play Washington-Marion at 6:30 p.m.(Rick Hickman/American Press)

Rick Hickman