SHREVEPORT – The Minden Crimson Tiders traveled to Fair Park Tuesday for a matchup of unbeaten teams in district 1-4A and left with a gut-wrenching loss, 47-45.
Fans got the type of game they were hoping for, but the Tide couldn’t pull it off in the final seconds as L’Jarius Sneed was smacked to the floor on his attempt to tie the game with a drive to the hoop as time expired.
“It’s a very disappointing loss,” Tide head coach Alan Shaw said. “We played our hearts out, we just couldn’t make the plays we needed to especially in the fourth quarter.”
The Tide had the lead late in this game, but gave the ball away too much in the final quarter.
Turnovers are a killer in tight district games, and the Tide committed more than they could overcome.
“We had way too many turnovers,” Shaw said. “There were times we couldn’t even get shots off in the fourth quarter because of unforced turnovers and mistakes. You just can’t do that on the road against good teams.”
Anfernee Red led Minden with 11 points, followed by Kevin Hamilton and J’Lorenz Beene with 10.
The Tide will aim to get back on track Friday at home against Loyola College Prep in The Palace.
Lady Tiders
In the girls game, the Minden Lady Tiders fell to the Fair Park Lady Indians, 68-42.
The Lady Indians are considered one of the favorites in the district and showed why, forcing Minden to turn
the ball over throughout the night.
“We have got to put this game behind us,” Lady Tider head coach Jacob Brown said. “We have to to be better with our ball security because the turnovers really hurt us tonight.”
Brown hopes his team will come prepared Friday night versus the Loyola Lady Flyers.
“We have another big game Friday,” Brown said. “We have to come ready to play with only seven district games left. I believe these ladies will come back and be ready to go.”
The Lady Tiders were led in this game by Sha’terra Batton who finished with 18 points. Tiaga Pugh who has been big for the Lady Tiders in the paint all year finished with 12.