Russell Hedges
rhedges@bossierpress.com
When Bossier got off to a 7-5 start this season, coach Jeremiah Williams knew some people probably were wondering if the Bearkats’ amazing run of success might be coming to an end.
Well, wonder no more.
The beat goes on as Bossier clinched the District 1-3A championship with a 71-53 victory over the North Webster Knights Friday night at Bossier.
It was the Bearkats’ sixth straight district title and 59th straight district victory. Bossier can make it 60 in a row when it closes out the regular season against Evangel Christian Academy Tuesday night at Evangel.
“It feels good,” Williams said. “Back when we were 7-5 people were wondering whether we were going to be good as we’ve been in the past. I knew we had the potential to be where we are right now, we just had to work. It’s just a product of hard work and being consistent over the course of the year. We’re excited to be champions one more time.”
Bossier improved to 22-7 overall and 9-0 in 1-3A. North Webster dropped to 21-9 and 6-2.
Tuesday night’s game was the third meeting between the teams.
North Webster won the first 60-55 in late December in the quarterfinals of the “Doc” Edwards Invitational. Bossier won the first district meet 65-59 in overtime on Jan. 28.
The game stayed tight in the first half with Bossier taking a 35-29 lead. But the Bearkats’ suffocating defense, a trademark of the Williams’ era, began to take its toll.
Bossier extended the lead to 49-38 after three quarters and then dominated the fourth.
“It was just good team defense,” Williams said.
Williams said one key to slowing down North Webster was the preparation leading up to the game.
He said that the Bearkats’ unsung heroes were players “that don’t get their names called out a lot of times, those practice guys that help us out.”
Those players were able to simulate North Webster in practice.
“They put us in position to play good defense,” Williams said. “It was a total team effort. I’m just proud of all those guys for the preparation leading up to that game.”
Senior guard Devonte Hall, the lone returning starter from last season’s semifinal team, continued his stellar season. Hall led Bossier with 29 points.
Darius Leary added 14, including two three pointers, and Kentrell Hardy had 13.
Elsewhere, Louisiana New Tech at Plain Dealing routed Haynesville 57-23 in a District 1-1A game in Plain Dealing.
Chiner Long led the Lions (16-8, 6-3) with 20 points. Ja’Carlius Stromile had 13 points and eight rebounds. Keldrick Carper had nine rebounds.
Long had 12 points and six assists in a 48-42 victory over Cedar Creek Saturday in Ruston .
