JOURNAL SPORTS
LAKE CHARLES – Calvary Baptist was the top seed in the LHSAA’s Select Division III bracket and had drubbed its three playoff opponents by an average of 30 points.
Third-seeded Country Day of Metairie had a combined winning margin of eight points in its last two games, including a one-point upset of second-seeded Dunham in Tuesday’s semifinals.
Calvary’s three regular-season losses to in-state foes – all who reached state finals in their brackets — were by a total of five points.
There was no doubt who was the presumptive favorite Friday afternoon.
Both schools had plenty of experience in prior state championship games before they met at Burton Coliseum in Marsh Madness. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, history repeated itself.
For the fifth time in six seasons, Calvary fell short in the finals. Despite a glittering resume against a challenging non-district schedule, the Cavs could not capture their first brass ring.
The Cajuns won their eighth LHSAA championship, their first since 2019, by 59-56 after a battle with seven ties and five lead changes.
Country Day (22-6) moved on top to stay with 38 seconds remaining on a driving layup in traffic by Herman Dyson, who then followed a missed Calvary 3-pointer with a pair of free throws at the 0:22 mark for a 57-53 edge.
Bubba Strong revived hopes for Calvary (28-4), nailing a 3-pointer six seconds later. Dyson was fouled with 14 seconds to go and missed his first free throw, but sank the second.
Down 58-56, the Cavs got a twisting, left-handed layup attempt by Jaiden Hall that was rebounded by Dyson. Again he went to the line, with seven seconds to go, and again he missed the first but connected on the next one.
The Cavs hustled downcourt and Hall was able to get off a contested 3-pointer from the wing in front of the Cavaliers’ bench at the final buzzer. It was closely defended, and Hall went to the ground. The shot didn’t drop, and the officials didn’t whistle a foul as Calvary coach Victor Morris stood with his arms outstretched, obviously frustrated at the no-call.
After Calvary opened the game with a quick lead, Country Day ran off 10 unanswered points late in the second quarter into a 25-16 advantage that was the largest of the afternoon by either team. The Cavaliers replied with a 12-2 run midway through the third quarter to build their biggest lead, 42-35, sinking six straight shots.
The Shreveporters scored 22 third-quarter points, doubling their first-half total, and carried a 44-42 edge into the final eight minutes. But Dyson scored eight of the Cajuns’ last 17 to spur the upset, which was fueled by his 17 points and 17 more, along with 9 rebounds and 3 assists from freshman Curtis McAllister, son of New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister and the game’s Outstanding Player, just a few weeks after he joined the Country Day starting five.
Calvary’s Tyrone Jamison scored a game-high 19 points, 11 in the Cavaliers’ third-period surge. Strong added 11 points.
Country Day (12 of 16) posted a six-point advantage at the free throw line over Calvary (8-16) and owned a 35-24 rebounding advantage while outscoring the losers 36-26 in the paint. The Cavs led for 19 of the 32 minutes and Country Day was on top for only 9:31 – including the final, agonizing 38 seconds.
Strong and fellow senior starter Justin Houston are Calvary’s only players who won’t be able to try to get over the final hurdle next season.