Tyler Templeton didn’t draw the charge, but he got his money’s worth.

The Catholic High senior basketball player sacrificed his body when a Franklin player drove into the lane in a critical District 8-2A game, absorbing a blow that broke his nose.

Although Templeton had to sit out for a span that consumed parts of the third and fourth quarter, he returned once the bleeding subsided to help the Panthers to the victory.

“It kind of hurt a little bit, but I didn’t think I broke it,” he said. “My adrenalin was pumping.”

Templeton, who missed three games, was supposed to wear a protective mask upon his return, but he quickly shelved it. He remained the same player, diving for loose balls and jousting for rebounds, and found that he shot more accurately.

“Tyler does the dirty work,” CHS coach Casey McGrew said. “He led us in offensive rebounds last and this year. He’s always in ‘that spot,’ knows where to go and goes after it. He shows grit.”

The Division III select sixth-seeded Panthers (25-7) received a bi-district playoff bye and will host the winner of No. 11 Capitol (18-11)/No. 22 Glenmora (14-16) on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Seniors Jake Lissard, Elliott Haik, Sammy Stokes, Gerard Schenk, Connor Segura and Templeton are making their farewell tour on the prep level. Templeton is a starter, Lissard the sixth man. The others have been pushing their teammates to become better players in practice for years.

“I think Tyler is the hustler of the team,” said Lissard, who is going to room with Templeton at LSU next year. “He always goes for the ball, no matter what. Even if there is a low chance of him getting the rebound, he’s going for it.”

It’s not unusual for Templeton to score in double-figures. He has scored just under 20 points in multiple games over the past two years. He is known for knocking down 3s in big games against St. Thomas More, New Iberia Senior High and Isidore Newman.

“Tyler always finds a way to make big shots when we need them,” McGrew said. “He does it almost every other game.”

“I’m more of a defensive player than offensive,” Templeton said. “Jake is also a good rebounder, and he’s definitely good at finishing at the rim.”

Lissard, whose season-high is 15 points, can play every position on the floor. He takes the place of big men Joab Trosclair or Chris Green if there is foul trouble. He is just as likely to assist point guard Jaiden Mitchell with ball-handling against pressure defenses.

“I use Jake as a mismatch,” McGrew said. “When Joab had to leave the game (last year’s quarterfinal at Metairie Park Country Day), Jake didn’t back down. He kept getting rebounds, kept boxing out. He’s only 6-foot-1, but he’s long.”

CHS is on the same side of the bracket as No. 3 University Lab (21-7) and No. 2 Dunham (25-7) and could conceivably face the two Baton Rouge programs in the quarterfinals and semis. Defending champion No. 1 Newman (16-3) and No. 4 Calvary Baptist (22-6), which eliminated the Panthers in the 2023 semis, are on the other side.

“We’re locked in and ready to win state,” Templeton said.