Featured photo by Douglas Blow
The Minden Crimson Tide make their first appearance in the boys basketball state tournament in 24 years Thursday afternoon against a familiar foe.
Minden (23-3), the No. 2 seed, takes on fellow District 1-4A member and No. 6 Bossier (21-11) in the non-select Division II semifinals at the Burton Complex in Lake Charles, site of the state tournament also known as Boys’ Marsh Madness.
The game is a rematch with Minden the team looking for revenge. The Crimson Tide fell to the Bearkats 66-52 on Feb. 7 at Bossier in a game that decided the District 1-4A championship.
After falling behind early, the Tide climbed back into the game and got within one late in the third quarter. But Bossier freshman David Thomas hit a 3-pointer at he buzzer. A foul was called and Thomas converted the four-point play. The Bearkats then pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Regardless of what happens Thursday, It’s been a season to remember for Minden. In 2023, Jacob Brown took over a Minden program that hadn’t reached the playoffs since 2016.
The Tide went 16-10, made the playoffs and won a first-round game before falling to No. 3 seed Carroll in the second round in Monroe.
With most of the key players returning, Minden went into this season with high expectations and have met them.
“It means a lot,” Brown said after the Tide’s 52-44 quarterfinal victory over Franklin Parish last Friday. “Leadership is important to me. Being in this role, leading these young men the best that I can. They’re led by a flawed man. I’m not a perfect one by any means. But just being able to lead these guys and put a vision in front of them two years ago. Last year we overcame some adversity with injuries to really make a good run.”
Brown brought in some former Minden players this season to talk to his players, including one that played on the last Minden team to play in a state championship game in 1985.
“I told our guys we’re not trying to do anything new,” Brown said. “There have been teams that made the state tournament it’s just been a little while. We want to add to the legacy of Minden High School and we want to kind of reframe our thought process of what we want to accomplish on a year-to-year basis. Stuff like this doesn’t happen all the time.”
It hasn’t at Minden but it’s a different story at Bossier.
The Bearkats are making their fourth trip to the state tournament in the last six years. Bossier has won four state championships since 2011, the last coming just two years ago.
“In our district it’s kind of a standard for Bossier to be there,” Brown said. “Year-in and year-out they’re there. And we want to create that here at Minden.
“At some point you have to have a group that gets a taste of it. Our guys are fixing to get a taste of it. We have freshmen and sophomores on this team. They may not be playing major roles but they’re getting this experience.”
This season, Brown has had the luxury of having a group of determined and talented players who have excelled on both ends of the court.
Junior Cameron Parker, senior Darnell Morris, junior Jaiden Franklin, senior Carmelo Smith, senior senior Christian Lofton and junior Kameron Harris have all stepped up. They can all score but more importantly in Brown’s mind is they all like to play defense.
Morris averages about 14 points per game, Parker 13 and Franklin 11 with Smith just a bit under double digits at nine. Morris also averages eight rebounds but most of the Tide players have contributed in that department.
After a 7-11 start, Bossier comes into the game with a 14-game winning streak, including playoff victories over No. 27 St. Martinville, No. 11 Plaquemine 48-39 and No. 14 A.J. Ellender 69-58.
Kerel Dean, a 6-foot-7 Xavier of New Orleans signee, leads the Bearkats. In the Feb. 7 game with 23 points. That is right at his season average. He also averages about 10 rebounds per game
But like Minden, Head Coach Justin Collins’ Bearkats have several player that have contributed to the team’s success.
The freshman Thomas averages 10 points. His shooting from 3-point range has been key. Senior guard Kam Davenport also averages about 10 points along with four assists.
One big difference in the first meeting between the teams was offensive rebounding. The Bearkats got several second- and even third-chance points.
The Bossier-Minden winner will play the winner between No. 1 seed and defending champion Wossman (26-6) and No. 5 Brusly (25-4) in the state championship game Saturday at 6 p.m.
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