Featured photo by Douglas Blow
For the first time in 24 years, the Minden Crimson Tide are headed to the state tournament.
In an atmosphere Minden Head Coach Jacob Brown described as electric, No. 2 seed Minden defeated No. 7 Franklin Parish 52-44 in the non-select Division II quarterfinals Friday night at Minden.
The Tide (23-3) will face fellow District 1-4A member Bossier in the semifinals Thursday at 2:45 p.m. in the semifinals at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, site of the state tournament also known as Boys’ Marsh Madness.
Bossier (21-11), the No. 6 seed, defeated No. 14 A.J. Ellender 69-58 in its quarterfinal game at Bossier.
The Bearkats defeated the Tide 66-52 at Bossier on Feb. 7 in a game that decided the 1-4A championship.
But that game or the one next week weren’t on the minds of the Minden players, coaches and fans Friday night. It was a time for celebrating and many congratulatory hugs.
Brown is in just his second year as the boys head coach after serving in the same position with the girls team for 14 seasons.
“It’s an absolute honor,” he said of being able to take this group of players to Lake Charles.
“Being able to lead these guys, they’re bought in. They do what we ask them to do. They did something tonight we haven’t asked them to do all year and didn’t bat an eye and it was probably the difference in us winning.”
Brown said the game played out about like he expected.
“Our guys found a way,” he said. “It wasn’t going to be putting the high 60s and low 70s on the board. It was going to be low 50s and hold the team to 40s.”
Minden trailed 12-10 after the first quarter.
Christian Lofton knocked down a 3-pointer late in the first half and the Tide led 28-25 at the break.
Cameron Parker hit a 3 and scored seven of his 13 points in the quarter.
Minden began to get some separation in the third quarter. Darnell Morris scored 11 of his game-high 17 points and the Tide took a 44-33 lead into the fourth.
With just over two minutes to play, Franklin Parish got within six at 46-40. A three-point play by Chris Harris pushed the lead to 49-40.
The Patriots cut the lead back to seven. Morris missed from the corner but got the rebound and scored to make it 51-42.
Franklin Parish got a tip-in with 1:15 left to make it a seven-point game again. But that was as close as the Patriots would get.
Minden forced a turnover. The Tide missed a shot but the Patriots couldn’t get one to fall.
Brown said defense was the ultimate key.
“These guys, their vision and their approach to the game aligns with mine,” he said. “They love to guard. Yeah, people like to score; these guys like to guard. That gives you a chance to win. We didn’t have our best shooting night tonight. So the defense is what propelled us. We had some key baskets at clutch times and it was from being disciplined in the halfcourt setting.”
Carmelo Smith added seven points for Minden. Chris Harris and Jaiden Franklin had five each. Lofton had three and Kameron Harris two.
Tavon Bell led Franklin Parish (17-9) with 16 points. Drew Cooper had 15.