The Bossier Bearkats will face a familiar foe in a familiar place in the semifinals of the non-select Division II semifinals Thursday afternoon.
Bossier (21-11), the No. 6 seed, plays fellow District 1-4A member and No. 2 seed Minden (23-3) at 2:45 p.m. at the Burton Complex in Lake Charles.
Bossier defeated Minden 66-52 on Feb. 7 at Bossier in a game that decided the district championship.
Bossier is in the state tournament, also known as Boys’ Marsh Madness, for the fourth time in the last seven years and the second in the last three under Head Coach Justin Collins.
Two years ago, the Bearkats won their fourth state title since 2011 and fifth overall.
It’s a different story for Minden. The Crimson Tide are in the semifinals for the first time in 24 years. A Minden team hasn’t reached the state title game since 1985.
Jacob Brown took over as head coach in 2023 after leading the Minden girls program for 14 seasons. Last year, Minden reached the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Tide lost to No. 3 seed Carroll in the second round.
Most of that team returned this season. Three Minden players are averaging in double figures — senior guard Darnell Morris (14 points per game), junior guard Cameron Parker (13) and junior guard Jaiden Franklin (11). Senior forward Carmelo Smith is averaging just under double digits at nine points per game.
Minden received a first-round bye in the playoffs then defeated No. 15 Beau Chene 69-32 and No. 7 Franklin Parish 52-44.
The Tide’s other regular-season losses were to Ruston 54-36 on Dec. 26 in the “Doc” Edwards Invitational and West Monroe 69-57 on Jan. 21 at West Monroe.
After starting the season 7-11, Bossier has reeled off 14 straight victories. The Bearkats defeated No. 27 St. Martinville 73-52 in the first round of the playoffs, No. 11 Plaquemine 48-39 in the second and No. 14 A.J. Ellender 69-58 in the quarterfinals.
In the first meeting between the Bearkats and Tide, Bossier jumped out to a big early lead. Minden rallied and got within one late in third quarter.
Bossier freshman David Thomas hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer and was fouled. He made the free throw for the four-point play. The Bearkats continued to pull away in the fourth quarter.
Senior forward Kerel Dean, a 6-foot-7 Xavier of New Orleans signee, led Bossier with 23 points, which is right at his season average. Dean also averages about 10 rebounds.
Offensive rebounding was a big key the Bossier’s victory. The Bearkats got several second- and third-chance points.
Thomas added 13 points and senior guard Kam Davenport had 12.
After last Friday’s quarterfinal victory, Collins gave credit to seniors Dean, Davenport and Javonte Small for their leadership throughout the season.
Bossier is similar to Minden in that a large group of players have contributed to the team’s success.
Thomas averages about 10 points per game and has hit some big 3-pointers. Davenport also averages about 10 points.
Sophomore forward JaTravion Bunnery averages about seven points and eight rebounds. Small averages about seven points, four rebounds and six assists.
Senior forward Tonio Ambler-Barr and sophomore guard Tycoreion Williams have also contributed.
The Bossier-Minden winner will play the winner between No. 1 seed and defending champion Wossman (26-6) and No. 5 Brusly (25-4) in the state championship game Saturday at 6 p.m.