REPORT: No. 6 Independence Tigers maul Bogalusa at home

THROW IT DOWN- Senior Tiger forward Melvin Baker (23) throws down his third dunk of the night in their 66-32 win over Bogalusa. Photo by Matthew Roy.

By Jesse Brooks

Independence boys basketball (5-1) showed every reason why they were handed a No. 6 power ranking in Class 2A by the LHSAA on Tuesday, December 12 as they handled Bogalusa at home with a final score of 66-41.
The Tigers held Bogalusa into a scoreless second quarter, resulting in a 48-5 halftime score that was too deep for the Lumberjacks to climb out of.
The Tigers opened the game on a 13-5 run that included two alley oops to forward Melvin Baker and a steal and score by De’Angelo Gaines. The two players served as a one-two punch for a majority of the first half as Gaines sank a 3-pointer and Baker hit back-to-back jumpers in the lane under five minutes remaining in the first half. At 2:55 in the second quarter Baker landed his third dunk of the night to extend the lead to 35-5.
“(Baker) brings leadership,” Tigers Coach Ace Misita said. “There aren’t too many guys that get three or four dunks a game and don’t say a word. He does his talking with his points.”
After a 13 point first half, Baker sat for the remainder of the night for rest with the game well in hand.
Bogalusa showed more life in the second half and cut into the deficit 64-32 after a 3-pointer from Chance Turner, but time was not on their side as there was less than four minutes left in regulation. Despite a run from the Lumberjacks, the Tigers came away with a 66-41 final score.

HIGH POINT MAN- Tiger guard De’Angelo Gaines (12) led all scorers on Tuesday night with 19 points. Photo by Matthew Roy.

“When we play the brand of basketball we are capable of playing we can play with anybody,” Misita said. “We have holes in are game teams can take advantage of and we have to clean that up. We’re just looking game by game.”
Gaines led the Tigers in scoring with 19 points that included two 3-pointers. Genard Perry also contributed 11 points total.
The Tigers will face Kentwood on Thursday in the opening round of the Tangipahoa Parish Tournament.