LEBEAU - The tempo never dipped below a blur as the Port Barre Red Devils edged the North Central Hurricanes (15-7) (2-2) by a score of 56-51. With the win, the Red Devils improved to 9-9 overall and a perfect 3-0 District 6-2A record.

The fast tempo was exactly the game plan that coach William Davis prepared. "All three games were hard fought contests that could have gone either way. We practice picking up that key turnover in a tight contest that will give us the win."

Port Barre zipped out to a 6-0 lead, but crucial treys pulled the Hurricanes back to a 12-12 tie at the end of the first quarter.

Chris Keys provided the offensive thrust for the Devils in the second period, scoring 10 of his 14 points to knot things up at 31-31 going into the intermission.

The Red Devils finally opened up a little breathing room with a pair of three-pointers by Daniel Francis to take a 48-44 lead into the final stanza.

But, North Central immediately tied things up with two quick baskets before tough defensive efforts by both teams bogged down the scoring.

The offenses traded meager scoring opportunities until the final buzzer with Port Barre escaping with the five-point victory.

Francis paced the Devils with 18 points followed by Keys with 14 and Marvin White with 13.

Kenard Tanner was top man for the Hurricanes with 14 points. Joshua Toussaint chipped in 12.

Port Barre will travel to Opelousas to take on Westminster Christian Academy Friday while North Central entertains Jackson.

North Central salvaged a split as the Lady Hurricanes (17-6, 5-1) rolled past Port Barre's young Lady Devils (3-17,1-6), 70-27.

Donisha Durisseau tallied 20 points, 12 rebounds and 5 steals in leading the talented hosts to the runaway win. Apphia Doucet added 14 points.

Durisseau needed only the first two periods to put up her impressive numbers as she staked the Lady 'Canes to a 50-16 halftime lead.

Port Barre managed only one basket in the third quarter as the North Central margin increased to 66-18 going into the final period of play.

Sixth-grader Yolanda Andrus displayed a glimpse of the future as she helped Port Barre outscore North Central's substitutes 9-4 to close the final margin to 70-27.

"They are a young team and coach (Connie) Thierry is doing a good job with them," Lady Hurricane head coach Vanessa Taylor allowed. "They will be a good team in the future."

Andrus led the Lady Devils with 11 points and Amber Marks chipped in eight points.