JOURNAL SPORTS
LAKE CHARLES – As usual, there wasn’t much difference between familiar I-20 rivals Bossier and Wossman (Monroe) Saturday when they squared off with the LHSAA’s Non-Select Division II state championship at stake.
But the Wildcats made the most of it. Bossier suffered almost twice as many turnovers (17-9) and Wossman owned a 19-5 advantage in points off turnovers, keying a 50-44 victory for the defending state champions at Burton Coliseum.
Bossier committed six turnovers in the final quarter. Wossman had none.
The Wildcats (28-6) were the top seed in the Division II bracket and won their 12th game in a row this season while playing in their seventh state final in the last 10 years.
As the lowest seed (sixth) to reach a state final this weekend at Marsh Madness, the Bearkats (22-12) had a 15-game win streak snapped in a sour end to a season on the brink, when they lost 10 of their first 16 and endured disdain from fans before mounting a terrific run over the last nine weeks.
The game was tight throughout, with four lead changes (Bossier’s last edge was 27-26 just after halftime) and five ties. The teams were even for the final time at 40 with 5:40 to go after they entered the final eight minutes knotted at 38.
Wossman ran off six unanswered points, five in a 17-second span prompting Bearkats’ coach Justin Collins to call timeout with 2:34 left. Bossier immediately responded when Kameron Davenport put in his own miss 17 seconds later, then trimmed the deficit to 46-44. Kerel Dean rejected a Wossman layup, starting a fast break that Javonte Small capped with an 8-footer just outside the right side of the lane with 1:53 left.
Wossman maintained possession, benefitting from a favorable possession arrow with 1:01 left, and 20 seconds later the Bearkats barely missed a deflection and possible steal near midcourt. The Bearkats decided to foul to send Wossman to the line with 25 seconds remaining, but senior point guard Davey Mays, playing with an injured knee that will require surgery, drained two free throws.
Bossier’s last turnover came on its next possession. Mays was again perfect on two freebies with 16 seconds left and the Bearkats couldn’t answer as time evaporated.
Dean scored 16 points, but only five after halftime, all in the third quarter. Wossman coach Casey Jones said after Dean dominated the first two periods, the Wildcats clamped down on him, often using two defenders. Dean also collected a game-high 11 rebounds but only three in the final two quarters.
Freshman David Thomas scored 14 for Bossier. Wossman got a game-high 24 points from Zion Weeks, whose three-point play with 2:51 to go made it 44-40, before a steal and layup by teammate Morgan Robinson boosted the lead to 46-40 15 seconds later.
The Bearkats reached the finals for the second time in Collins’ three seasons as head coach. They won it all two years ago, beating Wossman in the semifinals and upsetting their Monroe neighborhood rival Carroll. Bossier also won state crowns in 2011, 2016, and 2020.
Dean, Davenport and Small capped their Bearkat careers Saturday.