Saints get past Tigers in Region 5-3A matchup

Published 9:47 am Friday, January 9, 2026

By Brandon Shields

RIDGELAND — It wasn’t pretty, but St. Andrew’s got a district win at home.

Behind the play of William Johnson, along with a few offensive runs, the Saints got past Southeast Lauderdale 51-40 in a key Region 5-3A matchup on Thursday night.

“It was an ugly game, and I knew going in they were going to try to slow the game down with them down some guys hurt. I felt like we tried to force things early, but we played well defensively,” said St. Andrew’s head coach Russell Marsalis. “We would pull ahead with a comfortable lead and then let them back in it.”

St. Andrew’s never trailed.

The Saints held a slim 8-7 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

St. Andrews began the second quarter on a 12-2 run to extend their lead to 20-9, but the Tigers responded with a 7-2 run to cut the lead down to 22-16 with just over two minutes left in the first half. The Saints scored the final four points of the first half to take a 26-16 halftime lead.

In the third quarter each team kept trading baskets that saw St. Andrew’s hold a 40-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Southeast Lauderdale began the fourth quarter on a 10-4 run to cut the Saints lead to 44-37 midway through, but the Saints ended the game on a 7-3 run to seal the win.

Johnson had 14 points to lead St. Andrew’s (13-4, 1-0 Region 5-3A).

“We hit some big shots at the end to distance ourselves, but overall in this district it’s going to be tough every night, and we got to be ready,” Marsalis said. “Happy to 1-0 in district, but we’re trying to teach the guys to be tougher so we will continue to get better.”

Jamius Whitted had 14 points to lead Southeast Lauderdale, while Markiveon Grant added 13 points for the Tigers (9-6, 0-2).

“Inexperience group so right now we’re learning how to finish games and doing that without three starters and two leading scorers,” said Southeast Lauderdale coach Jordan Payne. “We will figure out and it’s a challenge, but when we get everybody back we will be a different team.”