Featured photo by Michael Odendahl/GeauxPreps.com
The Bossier Bearkats advanced to the non-select Division II championship game with a 51-35 victory over the Minden Crimson Tide Thursday afternoon at the Burton Complex in Lake Charles.
Bossier (22-11), the No. 6 seed and inners of 15 in a row, faces No. 1 Wossman for the title Saturday at 6 p.m. The Wildcats (27-6) defeated No. 5 Brusly 56-52 in the other semifinal Thursday.
Defending state champion Wossman defeated Bossier 72-63 in the Wossman tournament Dec. 21. Minden closed its season 23-4.
The Bossier-Minden game was a rematch of a Feb. 7 game won by the Bearkats 66-52 at Bossier. That game determined the District 1-4A championship.
Thursday’s rematch was a physical battle. Both teams played tough defense but neither team shot the ball particularly well in the big Burton arena regardless.
Bossier shot 31 percent (14-45) from the field. Minden shot 28 percent (15-of-52). The Bearkats were 4-of-6 from 3-point range. The Tide were 2-of-16.
A big difference was at the free throw line. Bossier shot 30 and made 21. Minden made just 3-of-13.
“I thought we played well,” said Bossier Head Coach Justin Collins, who has a team in the title game for the second time in the last three years. “I thought we played hard. I thought we played good defense, solid defense. Thought we had a team effort. Thought we made free throws. I thought we did everything we had to do to win.”
Bossier was also making its fourth appearance in the state tournament, also known as ‘Boys’ Marsh Madness, for the fourth time in the last seven years. It was Minden’s first semifinal appearance in the last 24 years.
“You can’t substitute experience,” Collins said. “I think it gave us a little edge. I think we were a little more loose than they were. We’ve been here. We’ve seen it. They’ll be back. They’ll definitely be back.”
A fast start also helped. Bossier grabbed an early 9-2 lead. The Bearkats led 11-5 after the first quarter and 22-11 at the half.
We know Minden very well,” Collins said. “We’re familiar. Me and coach (Jacob) Brown are good friends. I just knew they were going to fight. I think we got up on them a little bit and got a little cushion which helped us at the end. Good job all the way around from our guys.”
Bossier extended the lead to 25-13 early in the third quarter. Minden then briefly gave their fans something to cheer about.
Darnell Morris converted a three-point play then hit a 3-pointer to close the gap to 25-19. But the Bearkats answered with a 6-0 run to close the quarter and led 31-19.
Bossier continued to pull away. The Bearkats’ biggest lead was 42-25. The Tide cut the lead to 44-33 but got no closer.
Kam Davenport and Kerel Woods led Bossier with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Davenport was 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Woods was 8-of-12.
Jatravion Bunnery had 18 rebounds to go with his 10 points. Tycoreion Williams had 11 rebounds and five points. Bossier won the rebound battle 46-33.
Morris was Minden’s only player in double figures with 14 points. He also had 13 rebounds.