(Note: This is an edited version of a story appears on page 5 in the Jan. 10 print edition.)
With 10 games left in his first season as head coach, Minden’s Jacob Brown likes the direction his team is headed.
The Crimson Tide is 9-4 going into Tuesday’s game against Loyola Prep.
“Overall I’ve been pleased,” Brown said. “I think our guys have competed. They’ve played hard. They’ve done the things we’ve asked them to do. We’ve had some challenges.”
The nine wins is one less than Minden had all of last season.
In fact, Minden has not won more than 13 games in a season since going 15-12 in 2016. That’s also the last time the Tide made the playoffs.
Now Minden is not only in a solid position to make the playoffs, the Tide could host a playoff game with some success down the stretch.
“What I want them to accomplish is, first it was, hey, let’s do what we have to do to get into the playoffs,” Brown said. “Now that we’re sitting right there it’s, hey, let’s take that next step. And you’re on the verge of a home playoff game at this point of the season with a lot of work next to do.”
Starting Friday against Booker T. Washington at home, all of Minden’s games are against District 1-4A opponents although the first two don’t count in the standings.
District 1-4A is the home of non-select Division II defending state champion Bossier and Huntington, another Class 4A power.
Minden fell to Bossier 62-41 in the second round of the “Doc” Edwards Invitational last month.
“Bossier is … they are Bossier,” Brown said. “They’re a championship caliber team. As a coach you want to challenge your team to look forward to those type of challenges. They’re in our division. You’ll see them again in district. You could see them in the playoffs.”
One reason Brown feels good about his team is the way it has responded to adversity, especially with just two seniors on the roster.
After every loss, Minden has responded to a victory.
The Tide has also had to fight through injuries. Three starters were out during the first three games of the season.
Minden also lost sophomore guard Jaiden Franklin for the season to a knee injury during an overtime loss to Arcadia in the second game.
Junior small forward Carmelo Smith missed a couple of games after suffering a concussion. Junior guard Christian Lofton missed time with a foot injury.
Several players have had to adjust to playing new positions.
“Our team is very inexperienced when it comes to the number of varsity minutes played,” Brown said. “Even my junior class. It’s them finding their way. Not that they didn’t play prior to. They had game minutes but their roles have changed and it’s guys like Darnell Morris being a leading scorer.”
Morris is a 6-foot-2 small forward.
“Darnell Morris has been a double-digit scorer,” Brown said. “Some of our guys who are the leading scorers, they typically have to guard some of the better players on the other teams as well.”
Maurice Rabb, a 6-4 power forward who was a receiver on the football team, and JeKoye Knowles, a small forward whose main playing time before this season was in JV games, are the lone seniors.
“He’s been everything I’ve expected him to be,” Brown said of Rabb. “He has the ability to protect the rim, creating a lot of extra opportunities and athletic plays around the rim.”
Knowles has been a consistent performer. He came through in clutch time in a 63-61 victory over Benton. The Tide rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
“He stepped into the starting lineup when some of these injuries began to take place,” Brown said. “Averaged double figures in scoring and has done a good job guarding and rebounding.”
Sophomore guard Cameron Parker has been an impact player.
“When he shoots the ball well he’s one of the best shooters in the area, maybe across the state,” Brown said.
Another sophomore, 6-4 Kameron Harris, has also produced.
“A kid coming off the bench, kind of instant offense and does it through a variety of ways through our system,” Brown said. “Gives us extra opportunities by rebounding on both ends of the floor.”
Sophomore guard Hudson Brown, Brown’s son, has also gotten quality minutes off the bench.
“They impact the game,” Coach Brown said of the sophomores. “One night it might be scoring, one night it might be rebounding, one night it might be making the right pass consistently.”
Since returning from his foot injury Lofton has made his presence felt defensively, Brown said.
Junior guard Chris Harris has gives the team “instant energy” when he enters the game,” Brown said.
It all goes to the team’s depth and the way it’s come together once the football players, including Kameron Harris and Brown, joined the team
“There have been times if we’ve dressed 11 there’s a chance we’ve might’ve played them all at some point,” Brown said. “Not just to please somebody but there are 11 guys we feel can step on the floor. If somebody’s struggling we can make that adjustment.
“Seeing how these guys and how they respond to their new roles has really been fun to see as a coach,” Brown said. “And us getting a feel for each other and then knowing what we expect each time we step on the floor.”
Brown said even in the losses there have been positives.
The Tide rallied in a 61-57 loss to Arcadia and had a chance to win. They had a chance to tie the game early in the second half in a 54-46 loss to Airline.
Even against Bossier, if they would have been able to make a few more shots underneath the basket the game would’ve been closer.
“As a coach I have to be honest and tell our guys what we have to do to get better, but you also have to bring out the positives,” Brown said. “We had opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on.
“I like the resolve of our team. I like how they’ve persevered. I’d like for us to put it together for four quarters.“
Brown knows the District 1-4A gauntlet will be a challenge, but he’s looking forward to it.
“I think we’re pretty close to having an identity as a team,” he said. “I think it’s a testament to our kids that they just kind of kept battling through adversity. You make it a point that there’s adversity beyond the game of high school basketball and you’re going to have to kind of walk your way through it. You’re going to come out with something good on the other side.”