By DAVE WOODALL
Slidell sports writer
SLIDELL — If you missed last Friday night’s state quarterfinal matchup between the Salmen Spartans (25-4) and the Ellender Patriots (25-8) you missed the proverbial “barnburner” as the #1 seed Spartans polished off #9 seed Ellender 58-38 to advance to the semifinals to take on #12 seed McDonogh 35 who upset #4 seed Plaquemine 39-34.
Game time was scheduled for Thursday, March 12 at 8:00 at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
In front of a packed house, there was tension that you could have cut with a knife as each team jockeyed for the lead.
It was Salmen that dominated from the outset outscoring the Patriots 17-9 in the first quarter thanks to some superb play by Cody Rudolph who scored eight points in the first frame.
Rudolph led again in the second quarter knocking down five more points as the Spartans shot the lights out from the field hitting on 14-of-23 (61 percent) to Ellender’s 7-of-24 (29 percent) in the first half. They also had a 13-0 run in the second quarter and led at the end of the first half 34-19.
But it was the Spartan defense that took the center stage this night.
“I thought we played outstanding defense,” Salmen coach Jay Carlin said. “We brought a lot of pressure, forced turnovers, and got points from those opportunities. I was proud of our effort in the game and we look forward to playing in Lake Charles.”
Ellender had a 10-0 run in the third that was highlighted by a three-pointer and a dunk by Quentin Scott that brought the Patriot faithful to their feet and onto the court where law enforcement and school officials were forced to intervene. Two over-zelous fans were escorted out of the gymnasium in the quarter, and one following the conclusion of the game.
The stingy Salmen defense held Ellender to one field goal in the final quarter and only four points.
Salmen dominated the lane as Chris Vickers blocked four shots to hold off an Ellender comeback try.
Rudolph led Salmen with 18 points and Vickers followed with 12 in the victory. Corey Vinson, whose superb ball handling skills against the press paid huge dividends, scored 11 points and Lane Bolner had eight with six of them coming on two, three-pointers.
Quentin Scott was the only Ellender player in double figures as he contributed 12 points on the night.