Tuesday night, it was the same old story for Catholic High; the Panthers had trouble making baskets.

Longtime, and former district, rival Erath was more than happy to take advantage.

The Bobcats, who worked out some early shooting woes of their own, drained free throw after free throw in the fourth quarter to sink Catholic High 59-55 in a non-district game.

“We couldn’t make a shot in the first half and we shot 20 percent from the field,” said CHS coach Josh Guilbeau. “I know that offensively we’ll struggle. We’ll have games where we’ll shoot the ball a little better but tonight was probably as bad a shooting half as we’ve had in the course of the year.”

But Guilbeau also noted that as bad as Catholic High shot in the first half, the Panthers only trailed by 2 points at halftime and his team had a good opportunity to pull out a win in the second half.

At one point, CHS held a slim 1-point lead at 28-27 in the third quarter, but Erath caught fire from the field and stayed hot at the free throw line to come away with the win as the Bobcats prepare to open District 5-3A play Friday.

“I think we did a lot better job in the second half,” said Tommie Pillette, whose team scored only 5 points in the second quarter after opening with a 15-point first quarter. “It went down to the free throw line. I think that if the game’s close and we can get to the free throw line, we’re going to beat most teams.”

Free throws definitely helped the Bobcats (11-6). EHS converted 20 of 24 from the line, including 10 of 12 in the fourth quarter to hold on despite a late 3-point barrage from Catholic High.

Mikey Seymour led Erath with 24 points after struggling in the first half.

“Mikey usually gets us going but he got off to a slow start and everybody becomes sluggish after that,” said Pillette. “I knew that after a matter of time he would heat up and it would make every body better.”

Josh Pillette and Ernest Darby each had 13 points for the Bobcats, who got an earful from Pillette at halftime.

“I told them it wasn’t a one-man show, it was a team sport and we had to share the basketball,” said Pillette. “So we shared it a little bit and he got his shots. Seymour is going to make most of them but everybody has to contribute.”

Ryan Hebert had 18, Evan Hebert added 15 and Rhett Gonsoulin chipped in 12 for Catholic High. The trio kept the Panthers close all night, even at the end of the game with 3-pointers to keep CHS (5-12) within 3 or 4 points and giving the team a chance to win.

“We had lapses where we allowed them to score too quickly and too easily,” said Guilbeau. “We struggled tonight against their zone. When we can hit shots, it opens up the inside for us but tonight we couldn’t do that.”

Catholic High finishes the non-district portion of its schedule Friday when the Panthers play host to Teurlings, then opens District 6-3A play against West St. Mary Tuesday.

“Teurlings will be a challenge for us,” said Guilbeau. “Hopefully we’ll be able to clean a few things up and be ready for West St. Mary.”