Wayde Sims Invitational: Ponchatoula vs. U-High
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University Lab weathered Ponchatoula’s huge run to start the fourth quarter, rebounded from a late deficit and had additional chances in both the fourth quarter and overtime to escape Saturday afternoon with a bounce-back win. But the Cubs struggled once…
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Continue ReadingUniversity Lab weathered Ponchatoula’s huge run to start the fourth quarter, rebounded from a late deficit and had additional chances in both the fourth quarter and overtime to escape Saturday afternoon with a bounce-back win.
But the Cubs struggled once again with the turnover issues that had allowed the lead to slip away in the first place and missed a pair of free throws with 1:11 left in the extra period.
And the Green Wave took advantage with three late free throws of their own — two by Chaleb Seaberry and one by Cameron Collier — to take the 67-64 victory and third place in the inaugural Wayde Sims Foundation Invitational.
“We just tried to play our best defense we can, play as a unit,” junior forward Allen Graves Allen Graves 6'9" | PF Ponchatoula | 2024 State LA said. “And I just tried to get all my teammates involved and tried to get them the ball in the situations they’re comfortable in and just overcome the circumstances of being in their house and being in overtime with them.”
Allen Graves Allen Graves 6'9" | PF Ponchatoula | 2024 State LA (6’9″ | 2024)
The Green Wave’s versatile big man was able to play more minutes Saturday than in the tournament semifinal the night before — because of foul trouble — and ended up leading the team in scoring in the second half and finishing with 15 points and game-highs of 12 points and three steals, as well as two assists and a blocked shot.
Even as the Cubs slowed Graves down with a box-and-one in the first half, he was able to find ways to impact the game on both ends, including a breakaway dunk to get ahead of a defense. And Ponchatoula ran the offense through the big man in several pivotal stretches of the second half during which he was often able to get into the lane, to the line or find open teammates
Cameron Collier (5’10” | 2023)
The senior guard hit a second-quarter 3-pointer, but then began making his biggest impact closer to the goal with a putback, repeated drives with the ball and active cutting without it en route to a team-high 17 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and a steal.
Jeremiah Lewis Jeremiah Lewis 6'3" | SG Ponchatoula | 2024 State LA (6’0″ | 2024)
Back-to-back 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter — the latter of which came from particularly deep range — sparked a 10-0 and 16-4 run to snatch the lead. Lewis finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals before fouling out with 1:11 remaining in overtime.
Seth Mays (6’4″ | 2023)
The senior guard played even more aggressively and vocally on both ends of the court Saturday than he had to lead U-High’s comeback attempt against Scotlandville on Friday. Mays finished with a game-high 19 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, a couple more quick pull-up jumpers and several drives right at Graves and the heart of the Green Wave defense. He also dished out a game-high five assists and grabbed four rebounds and a steal.
Colin Coates (6’6″ | 2024)
The Cubs’ own versatile, skilled big man finished with 16 points, including two 3-pointers, and four rebounds and a critical drawn charge in the final minute of regulation before fouling out in overtime.
Trushaad Bush Trushaad Bush 6'2" | SG University Lab | 2025 State LA (6’2″ | 2025)
The multisport standout came out on fire from beyond the arc with three first-quarter 3-pointers. And although he just added another free throw the rest of the way to finish with 10 points, the sophomore wing player with the thick frame was a leader handling the ball and defending, including his role in the box-and-one effort that slowed Graves in the first half, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.