Wildcats come from behind, edge Kaplan 52-48

Thirteen points is the difference between the Kaplan Pirates having an undefeated record in district and the 1-3 record they currently have after a 52-48 loss to rival Abbeville Friday night.
Abbeville’s experience took over in the second half, as they came back from an eight-point deficit to win the game and stay atop the district standings.
“It wasn’t the best game we played,” said Abbeville coach Berwick Hamilton. “I don’t know if we were still reeling from the big win we had Tuesday night, or we underestimated Kaplan, but they played well. They played hard. They made us make some of those mistakes out there.”
The Wildcats started off hot, opening the game on an 11-3 run, with seven of the points coming from senior Isaiah Antoine.
After a Kaplan timeout, the Pirates responded, closing the quarter out on a 13-4 run to take a 16-15 lead at the end of the first.
The Pirates extended their lead to 26-21 at halftime, while shooting over 50 percent from the field in the half. The Wildcats were ice-cold, shooting only 26 percent in the first half.
Kaplan’s Dylan Touchet hit a 3-pointer to start the third quarter, giving the Pirates their largest lead of the game with a 29-21 lead.
Abbeville went on a 10-0 burst to take a one-point lead, but the Pirates led 38-37 at the end of the third.
Turnovers had been a problem for Kaplan so far in district play, but the Pirates limited their turnovers in the first three quarters of the game.
However the fourth quarter was a different story. Abbeville’s pressure forced costly turnovers giving Abbeville a 50-48 lead with 49 seconds left.
On the next Wildcat possession, Dre’vian Evans was able to score a layup and get fouled to put Abbeville up by four with 32.3 seconds left.
He missed the free throw, but the Pirates were unable to make a basket to cut the lead.
“We made some mistakes, but my kids played hard,” said Kaplan coach Jeff Davis. “I wasn’t upset at tonight. We didn’t quit, we just came up a little short. A lot of that has to do with our young kids and Abbeville’s pressure. They have a lot of experience at Abbeville. They play a bunch of seniors, we don’t.”
Antoine poured in 17 points for Abbeville, followed closely by Clements Dorsey with 15.
Other scorers were: Chazz Duhon (1), Clyde Mitchell (9), Dre’vian Evans (4) and Jourdan Brooks (4).
Touchet was the game-high scorer with 20 points.
He was followed by: Darren Istre (6), Kain Broussard (1), Nathan Bertrand (7), Jalen Bates (1) and Joseph White (11).
Abbeville (12-10, 3-1) will travel to play West St. Mary Monday, and Kaplan (6-12, 1-3) will be on the road Tuesday against Notre Dame.