East Ascension High School 1984 Yearbook (Gonzales, LA) - Full Access

114 Spartans Sail Into Playoffs with a record-setting season The East Ascension basketball team opened its record– setting season with wins over Port Allen and Belaire. The Spartans lost to Broadmoor in the second round of the Re· demptorist Tourney and then ran off a string of 24 straight wins. E.A. beat Lutcher 60-35, John Ehret 70-38, Denham Springs 54-32, and St. James 43-40 to capture the Spartan Classic title. The Spartan roundballers then faced an unbeaten Terre– bonne team and came away with a 68-49 win. E.A. contin– ued its winning ways with a district-opening victory over the Capitol Lions, 75-66. In the next two games, the Spartans displayed their swarming defense to post wins over McKin– ley and Lee. Undefeated Broadmoor then traveled to Gonzales to face the Spartans. The game was an offensive battle throughout, with both teams exchanging the lead many times. Riding on the hot hand of Super-Soph Fess Irvin and the defense of Robert Reddix and Durwin Jackson, the Spartans outscored the Bucs 59-56. East Ascension continued its cakewalk through district with convincing wins over Tara and lstrouma. The last game of the first round pitted cross-town rival St. Amant against the district-leading Spartans. E.A. took charge early in the game and held off a late charge by the Gators to post a 67-61 win. E.A. ended the first round of district undefeated and faced a tough second round. After an opening win over Capitol, E.A. barely escaped with a victory over McKinley 74-72 in overtime. The Spar– tans returned home to defeat the Rebels of Lee High. Another showdown with Broadmoor took place, but it was the Spartans that came up short, 61-67. Tnis was E.A.'s second loss of the season and it snapped their 24-game winning streak. The Tara Trojans were the Spartans' next victims in a 65-56 trouncing. E.A. then defeated Istrouma, 57-41, to secure the 6-AAAA crown. The last regular season game was a disappointing 56-62 loss to St. Amant. The district champion Spartans were invited to partici· pate in the "Super Six" at L.S.U. This was a chance for many people to see the top six teams in the state play each other. E.A. faced White Castle and defeated them soundly 44-31 without the use of their leading scorer, Fess Irvin, who was hurt in the St. Amant game. E.A. traveled to the Assembly Center once more to face New Iberia in the first round of the playoffs. E.A. used relentless defense to trip up the taller Yellow Jackets, 67- 52. The Spartans then traveled to Monroe to play a strong Neville team. E.A. played a close game throughout and even took a 10-point lead, but the Tigers used precision jump shots to subdue the Spartans, 55-62. East Ascension ended its season with a 30-4 record and a 12-2 district mark. The Spartans were led by Sophomore Fess Irvin with a 24 ptsfgame average. He had highs of 40 against Rapides and 37 against Broadmoor. Senior Robert Reddix led the rebounding department with 182 overall and a 5.8 per game average. He also blocked 20 shots and shot a sizzling 62.8% from the field. Jr. Durwin Jackson was tops in steals with 72 while Senior Chuck Shive hit 79% of his freethrows. Durwin Jackson leaps over a Panther for an easy two.