Basketball Playoffs: Bonnabel advances to title game for second time in four years

It is so close they can taste it.

In search of a first-ever state championship in school history, the Bonnabel Bruins are in the Class 5A state championship game for the second time in four years.

The fourth-seeded Bruins rallied in the fourth quarter for a 65-60 victory over No. 9 Walker in the state semifinals at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.

Walker (24-9) led 31-30 at halftime and 47-43 going to the final quarter. Bonnabel scored the first six points of the fourth quarter and did not trail again, leading by as many as seven points in the final period.

Senior Tyron Williams pumped in 29 points, including five 3-pointers to lead the Bruins while Kyshoun James had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Bonnabel dominated the boards all evening.

LSU signee Jalen Cook topped the Wildcats with 28 points while Brian Thomas Jr. had 22 points.

Bonnabel (24-6) will square off with No. 6 Alexandria for the state championship Friday at 8 p.m.

The Trojans ended the fine season of No. 10 Hahnville, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 70-54 victory to advance to the title game.

Alexandria did it with outstanding shooting, making 10-of-21 shots from 3-point range and sinking 24-of-27 free throws.

Alexandria led 11-10 after one quarter and opened up a 33-26 lead by halftime behind 15 points from Latrell Holly. It was 44-35 Trojans going to the final quarter. Alexandria led 56-50 with 2:02 to play but outscored Hahnville 14-4 the rest of the way, much of it after senior Dylan Lorio fouled out for the Tigers.

Holly led all scorers with 28 points while Dez McQuain had 20 points for Alexandria (28-6).

Lorio had 15 points while Kaden Pierre finished with 14 points for the Tigers (23-10).

In the Division I semifinals, it was no contest.

Three-time defending state champion Scotlandville dominated from start to finish in an impressive 88-46 semifinal win over No. 4 Brother Martin in Baton Rouge.

Virginia signee Reece Beekman looked the part of a big-time player, recording a triple-double with 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a brilliant performance.

Tai’Reon Joseph led a balanced Hornet attack with 23 points, including five 3-pointers. Center Jonathan Horton had 16 points, Carvell Teasett had 15 points and Zaheem Jackson finished with 14 points for Scotlandville (33-3).

Brother Martin had little to cheer about. The Crusaders took a 4-2 lead before Scotlandville took the lead for good with a 13-0 run and never looked back.

It was 22-5 after one quarter and the lead grew to 45-13 by halftime. Scotlandville led 70-25 after three quarters.

The Hornets will make an amazing 12th consecutive appearance in a state championship game when they host No. 2 St. Augustine (31-1) Saturday at 4 p.m. as the two teams meet for the second straight year in the Division I state championship game. The Purple Knights downed Catholic of Baton Rouge 83-67 Tuesday night.

Scotlandville whipped St. Aug 73-53 in the title game a year ago in Lake Charles.

Before that, St. Augustine last played for a title in 2012, when the Purple Knights lost 58-41 to Peabody in the Class 4A title game. St. Augustine, which has won five state championships, last won a state title in 2011 when the Purple Knights whipped Scotlandville 67-43 in the Class 5A championship game.

This evening, No. 6 Carver (26-8) seeks a spot in the Class 4A championship game when the Rams battle defending state champion Breaux Bridge (27-8) at 4:30 p.m.

LHSAA Prep Playoff Results from Wednesday, March 11
Boys Marsh Madness
at Burton Coliseum, Lake Charles
Class B–(1) Simsboro 85, (5) Pitkin 48
Class B–(2) Doyline 63, (6) J.S. Clark Leadership Academy 61
Class 2A–(2) Wossman 48, (3) Madison Prep 46
5A–(4) Bonnabel 65, (9) Walker 60
5A–(6) Alexandria 70, (10) Hahnville 54
Select semifinals
Division I–(1) Scotlandville 88, (4) Brother Martin 45

LHSAA Prep Playoff Schedule for Thursday, March 12
Boys Marsh Madness
at Burton Coliseum, Lake Charles
Class 1A–(1) North Central vs. (4) Tensas, 1 p.m.
Class 3A–(1) Bossier vs. (4) Brusly, 2:45 p.m.
Class 4A–(2) Breaux Bridge vs. (6) Carver, 4:30 p.m.
Class 1A–(2) Grand Lake vs. (3) Lincoln Prep, 6:15 p.m.
Class 4A–(1) Peabody vs. (5) Woodlawn (Shreveport), 8 p.m.