The Kaplan Pirates finished the 2011-2012 basketball season in style Tuesday night, defeating the NV Patriots 69-40.

That final score belies an NV effort that had the Patriots trailing just 38-37 with 2:20 left in the third quarter.

However, that was as close as the Patriots would get to the visiting Pirates.

KHS (11-15, 6-6) went on a 31-3 run to close out the game with a victory and its season with a three-game winning streak. The Pirates were 6-4 over their last ten games.

“The last nine games, we played pretty good,” said Kaplan head coach Jeff Davis. “I wish that district was starting right now, because, we’re just playing really well as a team.

“We played so well in the second half tonight. We couldn’t rebound at all early in the season. Now, we’re a rebounding machine.”

Kaplan held a slim 25-21 lead at the half, and NV (8-17, 4-8) matched them basket for basket through most of the third.

At that point, an obviously athletic and talented Pirates squad took over. Pirate senior Tre´ Choate led the charge, dishing the ball accurately to set up buckets for his teammates.

Choate said it was nice to end his high school basketball career on a high note.

“I left it all on the court,” said Choate. “We played a good game. It was close in the second half, but we came out and finished.”

Choate said he believed Kaplan basketball would have a bright future and that he enjoyed his final season.

“I wouldn’t have rather played with anybody else,” he said.

“He’s the only four-year player that I’ve had in my time at Kaplan,” Davis said of Choate. “I’m going to miss him. Now, I’m going to go watch him play baseball.”

Tyler Simon led Kaplan with 26 points. Davante´ Davis had 18 points, Jalen Bates had 10 points, Choate had seven points, Darius Jordan scored four points, Kaylon Rudd got thee points and Caine Campbell had one point.

NV senior Jeremy James had 14 points, senior Dane Briggs had 10 points, Mike Bessard and Marlon Greene had five points, Donald Comeaux had three points, Christian Fauntleroy had two points and Aaron Harris had one point.