Much like the Christmas season, it feels like the Holiday Classic came and went in the blink of an eye.
Four days of non-stop basketball action culminated with the crowning of a boys and girls tournament champion Saturday night at The Palace.
Here are the results from the final two rounds of the 25th installment of north Louisiana’s largest tournament.
Boys Semi-finals
Loyola 64, Minden 57
The Crimson Tide couldn’t get their offense going in the semi-finals against Loyola, as the Flyers played smart, clean basketball and took advantage of several missed opportunities on Minden’s end.
Minden’s Sha’terra Batton drives to the basket in a game earlier this season. Batton made the all-tournament team for Minden. Douglas Blow/Courtesy Photo
Girls Semi-finals
Minden 51, Plain Dealing 46
The Lady Tiders outlasted a scrappy Lady Bulldogs team in the fourth quarter.
Plain Dealing took the lead from Minden with five minutes remaining in the game, but Minden showed poise by settling into their half-court sets and finishing the game on a big run.
Tiaga Pugh led Minden with 13 points and nine rebounds, followed by Sha’terra Batton with 11 points and Bre Rogers and Sha Whiting added eight points each.
Boys Championship
Woodlawn 72, Loyola 68
Woodlawn won a thrilling boys tournament championship game over the Loyola Flyers to cap an impressive run through the Classic.
Loyola led 35-34 at the half, but Woodlawn outscored the Flyers 19-16 and 19-17 in the third and fourth quarter to earn the four-point win and the tournament trophy.
Girls Championship
Red River 78, Minden 47
The Minden Lady Tiders fell hard in the finals against the undefeated Red River Lady Bulldogs.
“We didn’t play very good,” Lady Tider head coach Jacob Brown said. “We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well from the field. Red River had something to do with that, they’re a very good basketball team.”
Batton led the Lady Tiders with 13 points, Pugh finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds and Marlena Hill added nine points.
Pugh and Batton were named to the all-tournament team for the Lady Tiders, who finish this weekend with their record at 11-5.