Lyndon Burton of ESA (42) heads to the goal against Lafayette Christian Academy during their non-district game Tuesday in Cade. - Lee Ball / The Daily Iberian

CADE — Even a slow start couldn’t derail ESA Tuesday as the Falcons held their home opener against Lafayette Christian Academy.

ESA only had 1 point through the first four minutes of the non-district game before Lyndon Burton broke through with a basket from the lane and the ensuing free throw after being fouled by an LCA player.

Even with that, the Knights came right back and led 7-5 with three minutes left in the first quarter. After that brief flurry, the Falcons’ starters and depth on the bench finally asserted themselves and ESA pulled away for a 76-61 win.

“What I like about this group is that we have good depth,” said ESA coach Mike Bourgeois. “We know what J.J. is going to give us every night but tonight Nick Becker came in off the bench and gave us a real good spark. I think that our depth was key tonight. It allowed us to pull away from them.”

Jacquet led the Falcons with 28 points. Burton added 13 and the Falcons got 11 points off the bench in eventually putting away the Knights (1-1).

ESA (2-1) won despite being a little frustrated in the second half as LCA kept things close, preventing the Falcons from taking control too early.

“One of the things this team has to learn how to do is get stops,” said Bourgeois. “We need to get stops and extend the lead. If we can learn how to do that we have a chance to be a pretty good basketball team.”

Lafayette Christian coach Josiah Broussard attributed the loss his team’s youth. He said the Knights are still learning their roles in his system.

“We’re a young team and we have to get some more basketball under our belt,” said Broussard, who started one senior and four sophomores against the Falcons. “We had no answer for a couple of their big men. But once we get some basketball under our belt we’ll be all right.”

Jordan Broussard led the Knights with 20 points and Jeremy Joseph added 16.

Clyde Simien and Kalif Cormier each had 8 points for ESA while Becker and James Parris each had 7 points.

After the early struggles, ESA built a 19-14 lead at the end of the first quarter, was up 33-26 at halftime and led 50-39 at the end of the third quarter before closing it out with 24 points in the fourth period.

But with two wins in its first three games, Bourgeois believes his team is still learning how to play in some aspects.

“We’re learning,” said the ESA coach. “We have to play defense every night. That’s the one thing they have to learn.”

ESA returns to action Thursday when the Falcons play host to long-time rival Centerville.