MOSS BLUFF — Barbe controlled the boards and the lane Tuesday to beat Sam Houston 59-46 and stay perfect in District 3-5A.

The first half was close as the Bucs led 25-23 at halftime, but they shut down the Broncos in the third quarter, holding them to six points and outrebounding them 9-3.

“I thought we did a decent job of it (in the first half), but I thought we did a little bit better job in the second half,” Barbe head coach Carl Klein said. “I think the third quarter was big as far us able to get it going. We got some shots and were able to get it out in transition.

“Our half-court execution was much better in the second half. Two road wins are always good. We have a big one coming up on Friday night (against Lafayette) that we have to get ready for now.”

Barbe (21-2, 2-0) outrebounded Sam Houston 32-22 and scored 37 of its points in the lane.

Barbe opened the second half with a 12-0 run to push its lead to 37-23 on a fast break by Jayden Gradney.

Sam Houston (12-7, 1-1) was effective from 3-point range with 10 and stayed with the Bucs in the first half but couldn’t overcome the Bucs’ advantage on the boards.

“We went on a dry spell to start the third quarter,” Broncos coach Robert Acord said. “I am not sure what it was, but give credit to them, they turned up the defensive pressure.

“We just never got anything going. We didn’t have much in the lane. Ja’Quise (Richmond) is so long and they alter so many shots because they are so big. We knew it was going to have to be inside out and hopefully get some inside and, unfortunately, we didn’t.”

Sam Houston ended the scoreless streak with a pair of 3s by Alex Johnson and Brendon Guidroz to cut the Bucs’ lead to 37-29 with 1:13 left in the third quarter but got not closer.

The Bucs trailed 5-2 early, but Jabbari Barry scored on an offensive board, Ethan Marque made an uncontested layup and Gradney scored on a put-back for an 8-5 lead. Gradney finished with 19 points, Marque had 16 and Richmond added 12 points.

Sam Houston’s Seth Ned’s 3 gave the Broncos their first lead, 5-2, with 4:32 left in the first quarter and a buzzer-beater to end the quarter to cut Barbe’s lead to 13-10.

Sam Houston took its final lead, 18-17, on back-to-back 3s by Max Quarles and Ned, with 7:27 left in the second quarter. Ned led Sam Houston with 20 points.

Girls

Barbe……………….71

Sam Houston….36

The Broncos held a brief lead early but couldn’t find an answer for Barbe’s Areil Williams and Mikaylah Manley.

The duo accounted for 53 points as the Bucs scored 71 points for the second time in as many District 3-5A games.

The win sets up a top-10 showdown with Lafayette Friday in Lake Charles. Lafayette (21-4, 2-0) beat Acadiana 77-19 Tuesday.

Manley had a double-double for the Bucs (17-5, 2-0) with 27 points, 10 rebounds and six steals, while Williams worked the inside for 26 points, eight rebounds.

The Broncos led 3-2 early after a deep 3-pointer by Lucy Bellon, but the Bucs closed out the quarter on a 20-5 run.

Bellon led Sam Houston (11-12, 0-2) with 22 points.