St. Edmund kept the game close but could not steal the win as Loreauville handed the Blue Jays 55-42 loss Thursday night.

The Blue Jays made 17-of-33 free throws in the 13-point loss, a stat that could have made a difference in the outcome.

“We have to work on our free throws,” St. Edmund head coach Phillip Brown said. “It is something we need have to improve on if we want to be in a game at the end of it.”

Tyler Vidrine and Brent Swann hit a treys to give St. Edmund a 6-2 lead before the Tigers responded with a 10-2 run to grab a 12-8 advantage.

LHS continued its surge with a 5-2 run early in the second period.

Trailing 20-9, St. Edmund answered with a trey by Tyler Vidrine and five free throws from Swann, Kurt Landreneau and Drew Brown to pull the Blue Jays closer, 20-17.

After Anthony completed a three-point play, Vidrine and Swann scored to close the gap to 24-23 with 2:52 left in the half.

The Tigers exploded with a 8-1 run to forge ahead, 32-24 at the break.

Landreneau hit a free throw and Swann completed a three-point play early in the third period as the Jays continued to battle.

LHS broke away with a 9-4 run to take a 41-32 advantage into the final period.

Vidrine hit two free throws with 6:52 left, but the Tigers went on a 9-1 runto push ahead 50-35 with 4:40 remaining.

Swann scored from the baseline and Vidrine drilled a trey to close the gap to 50-40 before LHS went on a 5-0 run.

Landreneau closed the Blue Jays scoring with a bucket with 12 seconds left.

Swann led St. Edmund with 17 points, while Vidrine contributed 15 points and Landreneau added eight points.

“We played tough against a very athletic team,” Brown said.

“I am proud that our guys fought and battled until the end.

“I think we are getting better every game.”

St. Edmund travels to Ascension Episcopal on Friday before entertaining Avoyelles Charter on Dec. 16.