New Iberia earned a head start in the sprint for the District 3-5A boys basketball title with a 60-54 win over Barbe Thursday night at McNeese State.

The win kept the Yellow Jackets (21-1, 2-0) atop the district standings with six league games remaining.

After being limited to 24 points in the first half, the Yellow Jackets scored 25 in the third quarter to go ahead for good. Christian Walker made a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to give NISH a 49-39 lead going into the fourth.

“It was an energy and effort thing,” NISH head coach Chad Pourciau said. “We were sluggish in the first half and talked about making a run in the third quarter. It’s a big district win against a contender and on the road.”

Barbe head coach Carl Klein said the Yellow Jackets defense sparked the third-quarter push.

“They pressured us and took us out of what we wanted to do offensively,” Klein said. “We took some quick, ill-advised shots and that gave them some transition opportunities. They made some big stops and we were struggling.”

The first half was a duel between Barbe’s Jabbari Barry and NISH’s Wayne Randall. Barry scored 15 to help Barbe (15-8, 1-1) take a 28-24 lead into the break.

Randall scored 14 in the half, including the first nine Yellow Jackets points of the second quarter. Randall’s outburst helped rally NISH from a three-point deficit to take a three-point lead, but Barry answered with a pair of free throws and pull-up jumper from the free throw line to put the Bucs ahead again.

“In the first half we were limiting them,” Klein said. “We went to some zone and we’re getting out on their shooters. We were able to limit them to one shot and after getting the rebound we’re able to get out a little bit and push the ball. We were able to create good shots and hit some 3s.”

Barry finished with 28 points. Randall led NISH with 20. Kylan Dugas scored 14 and Walker added 12.