JEANERETTE — It’s been seven long years, but the district basketball crown finally rests on the head of Catholic High.

Senior Nick Brown hit two free throws with 15.2 seconds left as Catholic High rallied from a 4-point fourth quarter deficit to beat Jeanerette 59-56 Monday and clinch a share of the District 5-2A title.

Logan Fowler added 14 points, including four 3-pointers, and Jashawn Noel chipped in 12 as Catholic High joined Jeanerette and St. Martinville as the third Teche Area team to break the 20 win mark, improving to 20-6 overall and 10-1 in district.

Most importantly, the win assures the Panthers at least a share of the district title, with one game left in the regular season. CHS closes out Thursday night at home against Opelousas Catholic.

A win over the Vikings clinches the outright title for the Panthers, a loss means that CHS would share the title with Jeanerette.

“It was an unbelievable game,” said CHS coach Josh Guilbeau, who was an assistant coach on the last CHS team to win a district title in 2008. “It was back and forth all night. 

“We were down for a little while. Jeanerette is a great team that gets you to play their tempo a lot of times. We had a stretch in the fourth quarter where we had control of the game, we gave it back up to them. Our guys persevered in the end. We hit some big shots, everybody stepped up. I’m super excited for our guys right now.”

The Panthers led by 5 points, 46-41, at the end of the third quarter only to see Jeanerette (20-10, 10-2) go on a 12-3 run to open the final period and take the lead.

Not panicking after JSH’s big run, CHS rallied behind Brown and Noel, who combined to score the last 10 points for the Panthers while holding Jeanerette to one free throw over the last four minutes of the game.

The Tigers were led by Paul Richard and Jahori Johnlewis, who each scored 16 points and were responsible for bringing JSH back after trailing by 5 to open the fourth quarter.

“Jeanerette has a strong team. They’re going to do well in the playoffs,” Guilbeau said

The two teams picked up where they left off after the first game on Jan. 23.

Behind Richard and Johnlewis for Jeanerette and Brown, Noel and Fowler for CHS, neither team could get an advantage throughout the first half.

Jeanerette led 14-13 at the end of the first quarter and Catholic High rallied to tie the game at 29-all at halftime.

In the third quarter, Catholic High was able to pull ahead behind a couple of 3-point shots from Fowler and Nick Viator while Noel outplayed Johnlewis in the middle as the Panthers forged ahead.

Jeanerette’s fourth-quar-

ter rally started with a basket from Ed Jordan followed by baskets from Richard, Johnlewis and Tyrese Batiste.

But after the initial run from the Tigers, Jeanerette hit a cold spot and couldn’t get a basket from the floor or hit free throws while Catholic High slowly came back to take the lead for good on a basket by Noel in the final minute. Brown’s free throws sealed the win.

Now the Panthers look toward Thursday night and the regular season finale with Opelousas Catholic and the chance to clinch the outright title..

“It’s been a goal of ours to win the district title,” Guilbeau said. “It’s great to be back in this position right now.”