LEBEAU - Hoops season was new in more ways than one Wednesday night at the North Central Rockin' Canes Tournament Wednesday.
The Opelousas High-North Central nightcap was littered with rookies as both teams gave their junior varsity squads some prime-time to shine.
At the buzzer's end, the Hurricanes came out on top, 53-39.
North Central coach Butch Fontenot played a mostly-newbie squad, interspersed with occasional appearances by veteran players Patrick Aaron, Chris Cane, and Kennard Tanner.
OHS gave their varsity the night off, as head coach Jamie Rollins turned the keys over to JV coach Larry Cosby and his crew.
"We have our guys in four other tournaments, and we feel our JV guys play really competitive in practice," Cosby said of the decision to go with an all ninth- and 10th-grade squad.
"We felt they could be competitive in this tournament."
While being outscored 26-14 in the first half, the junior Tigers managed to stay in step with the 'Canes in the second half, popping in 25 points in comparison to 27 from North Central.
Freshman Marcus Leday led OHS with 11 points, nine of which came on treys.
Hurricane newcomer Joshua Toussaint dropped 13 for his team, while returning starter Patrick Aaron kept the scoreboard ringing with 20.
"I'm looking for the younger ones to step up," Fontenot said. "Later on in the year, (Derrick) Coleman, (Curtis) Andrus, and (Kennard) Tanner... you're going to hear from those guys.
"We're just living off of Patrick Aaron; he's carrying the team right now."
North Central will return on Friday to take on the winner of the Northwest-West St. Mary contest to be held tonight at 7:30.
The contest will be held after the New Iberia-St. Martinville 6 p.m. showdown.
Today's schedule starts off with Academy of the Sacred Heart-Mamou girls game at 4:30.
The winner of that game will take on the North Central Lady 'Canes at noon on Saturday.
The Lady 'Canes silenced the Bunkie Lady Panthers Wednesday, 65-47.
Brittany Butler kept North Central rolling with 17. Apphia Doucet hit a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists.
Floydiece Washington kept the glass clean with 11 rebounds.
In other action, the Port Barre boys fell to Bunkie, 49-32.