High school basketball has kicked off in the Teche area. 

For Class B and Class C schools, the hoops season begins before the football regular season comes to an end. Episcopal School of Acadiana, which went 25-10 last season, split its first two games, beating Northside Christian and losing to Family Christian.

“It was a solid first game,” ESA coach Jason Fatheree said of Tuesday’s 60-30 rout of Northside Christian. “We shot the ball well. We’re so young this year. We have a lot of guys getting their first varsity minutes. It kind of showed these first two games. I’m glad it’s happening now so we can learn from it.”

Semar Flugence, a 6-foot-3 senior, is the leading returning scorer from last year’s team, which lost to district rival J.S. Clark in the Division V select semifinals. Flugence began the season with a bang, slamming home a breakaway dunk and scoring 25 points in Tuesday’s win.

“The big dunk got the crowd into it early,” Fatheree said. “He’s obviously the centerpiece of our team. He’s going to have a major role. In our first game, guys made shots around him. Tonight’s game, not so much. When you’re a young team, that kind of stuff happens.”

Flugence led the Falcons with 17 points in the 50-33 loss to Family Christian. Most of his points came during an eight-minute span in the second half as ESA went on a 7-0 run. Jesse Lejune added six points on consecutive 3-pointers in the first quarter.

“Jesse is a solid shooter and a good young player,” Fatheree said of the 5-foot-11 sophomore, who scored 10 points in the Northside Christian game. “If you leave him open, he can knock down a shot.”

Colby Huffman, a 5-foot-9 junior, hit three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points in the season-opener. Cade Broussard, one of three seniors, has been “a steady rock,” Fatheree said. 

At 6-foot-1, senior Mark Miller is one of only three players on the roster taller than 5-foot-11. Junior Ryan Miniex brings much-needed size at 6-foot-2.

“It’s his first year playing basketball, so this was the second game of his life,” Fatheree said of Miniex, whose older brother played for ESA. “He’s a big body for us. We’re kind of small. He fills that role and is learning quickly in a short amount of time.”

Javien George, Miles Eble and Jacob Vilar, who were all 6-foot-2 or taller, graduated from last year’s team. Vilar, the leading scorer, has stayed on as a coach while taking college classes at UL.

“Jacob brings us a different younger perspective to the younger players, having just played with them,” Fatheree said. “He was an awesome player, a great kid to coach, and one of the hardest workers I’ve had.”

The Falcons return to action at the Grace Christian Tournament in Alexandria on Saturday. J.S. Clark is scheduled to visit The Nest on Friday, Nov. 22 in a rematch of last year’s state tournament game.

“We didn’t have any scrimmages to start the year,” Fatheree said. “This was our first live action. We have good young talent. It takes time for them to see the importance of every possession in a varsity game. Once they get that experience, I have no doubt we’re going to improve. 

“We’re going to have growing pains, but we have tough kids who want to improve and want to be coached. I’m excited about that.”