The way Bossier Head Coach Justin Collins sees it, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
At one point this season, Bossier was 6-10. Now the Bearkats are headed to the state tournament for the fourth time in the last six years and the second in the last three under Collins.
Bossier, the No. 6 seed, defeated No. 14 A.J. Ellender 69-58 in the non-select Division II quarterfinals at Bossier.
The Bearkats (21-11), who have won 14 in a row, will face No. 2 Minden in the semifinals Thursday at 2:45 p.m. at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, site of the state tournament also known as the LHSAA Boys’ Marsh Madness.
Minden defeated No. 7 Franklin Parish 52-44 in its quarterfinal game at Minden. Bossier defeated Minden 66-52 Feb. 7 at Bossier in a game that decided the District 1-4A championship.
Bossier’s playoff road ended in the quarterfinals last year.
“It’s special,” Collins said of making another trip to Lake Charles. “We started off with high expectations. Had some guys that didn’t start and play because of conduct detrimental to the team. We were 6-10 and we had some guys that just didn’t want to do right.
Collins gives credit to his seniors Kerel Dean, Javonte Small and Kam Davenport for getting things going in the right direction.
“One thing about our senior group is they stuck together and we stayed the course,” he said. “And it is a senior group that has won one state championship (in 2023). I really don’t know the words. Just the resiliency and the fight. Never giving up. Not listening to the naysayers and it’s special.
“I hear we get to play Minden. That makes it even more special.”
Friday’s game wasn’t an easy one although it looked like it might turn out that way early.
Bossier raced to a 9-3 lead and led 20-7 in the second quarter. But the Patriots began to get some 3-pointers to fall, including one at the buzzer that cut the Bearkats’ lead to 29-25 at the half.
Ellender got as close as 31-30 early in the third quarter. Bossier answered with a 7-0 run punctuated by a dunk.
But just about every time it looked like the Bearkats were going to pull away the Patriots had an answer, usually with a 3-pointer. Ellender made eight in the game but missed many.
Bossier led 45-38 going into the fourth.
The Bearkats extended the lead to 52-43 early in the quarter. The Patriots got as close as five at 56-51. But Bossier answered with an 8-2 run and the Patriots never got closer than nine the rest of the way.
“It’s the third round of the playoffs.,” Collins said. “A quarterfinal game is tough. If you’re in the third round of the playoffs you earned it.
“They never gave up. Every time we punched them they’d take the punch. They just kept fighting. Our guys kind of sucked it up at the end. Got a few stops and made a few shots.
“Our seniors came through in the end. Proud of those guys. That senior leadership pushed us through.”
The 6-foot-7 Dean led Bossier with 24 points. He scored 22 of those in the final three quarters. He had nine in the second, six in the third and seven in the fourth. His defense and rebounding were also key.
Jatravion Bunnery and David Thomas scored 18 and 17, respectively. Thomas had three 3-pointers. They both scored six in the fourth.
Davenport added six points and Small four.
Tamaj Lagarde, who hit four 3s, led Ellender with 21 points. Chavez Collins had 17.
The Patriots, who upset No. 3 Opelousas in the second round, finished 18-13.