Lamm, Menard lead Pios past ESA in TCHS tourney

Zach Lamm and Teddy Menard combined for 30 points Monday to help lead Notre Dame to a 38-29 victory over ESA in the Pios’ only game of the Teurlings Catholic Round Robin.
The Pios, who are ranked No. 6 in the Division III power ratings, improved to 5-0 with the victory.
The Falcons, ranked No. 3 in Division V, fell to 8-6.
“For our kids to get a win over ESA, on a neutral court, that’s a good win for us,” said ND coach Duke Daigle following the victory. “They (ESA) played Episcopal, who is No. 2 in our division, to a five-point game, so they are a really good team and they are well coached.”
ESA, a traditional Class B power, got hot from beyond the arc in the opening frame and dropped in three 3-pointers to keep the game close.
The Pios leaned on their veteran guards, Lamm and Menard, and the duo each knocked down one long ball in the period and accounted for all of Notre Dame’s points, but the Falcons were able to take a 13-12 advantage.
In the second frame, the Pios’ defense took over.
Notre Dame forced seven turnovers in the frame and went on a 10-3 run to take a 22-16 advantage at the break.
Lamm connected on two more long balls in the frame and Menard hit two buckets in the lane.
“Zach has been one of the better shooters in this program and he was struggling a little bit early on,” said Daigle of Lamm, who finished with a game-high 19 points. “I told people that once he (Lamm) starts seeing a few go through the goal, you better watch out and I think that happened tonight; he started hitting some shots, got some confidence and started letting them fly without thinking about it.
“We just saw some matchups with Teddy and Zach that we thought we could get something out of and those guys took advantage of it.”
The Falcons got a big 3-pointer from Cameron Lee and a bucket in the lane from Ian Allam to trim the lead to one (22-21) to start the third quarter before Lamm picked up a steal and a layup and Nick Swacker hit a shot in the land to give the Pios a little cushion.
Swacker added another basket later in the frame and Jackson Casanova hit a free throw to help the Pios take a 29-26 lead into the final stanza.
Menard drove in for a layup to start the fourth quarter and ESA answered with a free throw, but the pace slowed tremendously after that with neither team scoring for the next five minutes.
The Pios spread the floor and ate clock for most of the period until the final minute when they went on a 7-2 run to close the game out.
“You know, these guys (ESA) have played 14 games and we’ve played four,” said Daigle. “I’ve got guys logging a lot of minutes and they’re tired out there, so I’m pulling it out, three to three and a half minutes, which is going to take our scoring down, but we’re playing possession basketball to try and win a game.
“We have some guys that still aren’t in basketball shape and you see some of the mental mistakes because of fatigue; so for now, it’s about possession basketball.”
In addition to Lamm’s 19 points, he also pulled down six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Menard finished with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Swacker added five points and four rebounds and Casanova added three points, six steals and three boards.
Parker Faust failed to score, but he contributed seven assists and pulled down three rebounds.
“Our juniors and seniors are going to have to lead us, but those freshmen are growing a little bit,” said Daigle of Faust and Casanova. “It may not show in the points, but Jackson Casanova had six or seven steals and three points and Parker Faust had seven assists and no turnovers. You give me seven assists and the other one gives me six steals, that’s production to me.”
Wilt Hagatt led ESA with 10 points and Allam had seven.
Notre Dame returns to action on Monday, Dec. 27 when they participate in the Brad Fontenot Memorial Holiday Shootout hosted by St. Edmund in Eunice.
The Pios will take on Kinder at 5 p.m. with the winner advancing to a 3:30 p.m. contest on Tuesday against either Pine Prairie or Eunice. The loser will play at 12:30 p.m., also on Tuesday.