By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
LAKE CHARLES – Plenty of people gave up on the Bossier Bearkats after a 6-10 start to this season.
That has fueled the Kats’ fire as they have won 15 in a row and will play Saturday at 6 for the Non-Select Division II state championship – a familiar position.
Bossier is in the state finals for the fourth time in the past seven seasons, aiming for its fifth championship since 2011, the most recent coming just two years ago. The Bearkats earned that opportunity Thursday afternoon at Burton Coliseum with a 51-35 thumping of District 1-4A rival Minden in a semifinal matchup.
The Bearkats (22-11), seeded sixth, will collide with No. 1 Wossman (27-6), which nudged Brusly 56-52 in the game following Bossier’s victory. The Wildcats, who will play in their seventh state title game in 10 seasons, topped visiting Bossier 72-63 on Dec. 21 in Monroe.
In an interesting comparison, both finalists played Select Division III finalist Calvary recently. On Jan. 18 Calvary edged Wossman 57-55, and the Wildcats have won 10 straight since. Bossier outdueled Calvary on its homecourt 56-55 on Feb. 22.
The Bearkats’ defense and rebounding set the tone in Thursday’s rematch with Minden.
“The game plan was if we could guard ‘em, we had a pretty good chance,’ said Bossier coach Justin Collins.
Mission accomplished. Bossier led 27-19 at half and scored the first nine points of the third quarter to open a double-digit lead it never relinquished.
The Crimson Tide managed to make only 28 percent of their shots and were outrebounded 46-33.
Bossier got a game-best 15 points by senior Kameron Davenport, 14 from his classmate Kerel Dean, and a double-double performance of 10 points and 18 rebounds by sophomore JaTravian Bunnery. Dean played through a painful ankle injury.
“People were hating on us (after the bad start),” said Davenport, asked about Bossier’s motivation. “They thought we weren’t going to make it (here).”
“Nobody thought we were going to be here after December,” agreed Dean. “Everybody. We stuck to the grind, every day. Every day. Every day.”
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Just stay the course, stay the course. Just keep working, don’t worry about the result. If you work, everything will take care of itself,” said Collins, recalling how he encouraged the Bearkats through their subpar start to the season.
Now that they’ve accomplished the comeback, he relishes the chance to play for the trophy Saturday at 6.
“It means a lot. You base the season off the last game, and we have earned the right to play that last game, in the championship. It’s an honor and a blessing to be here,” said Collins.
Minden ended its best season in 24 years, since its last semifinal appearance, with a 27-4 record including two very similar losses to Bossier – 56-42 on Feb. 7 that ultimately earned the 1-4A title for the ‘Kats, and Thursday’s 16-point difference.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com