Brother Martin faces tall task at Scotlandville

To be the best, you have to beat the best.

That is the challenge for Brother Martin Wednesday night and they will have to do it in a nest of swarming Hornets.

In Baton Rouge, No. 4 Brother Martin (29-4) faces a tall task at three-time defending state champion and No. 1 Scotlandville (33-3), ranked 13th in the country by MaxPreps. The Hornets have lost just once to a Louisiana opponent with the other two losses coming out of state.

Scotlandville has won five state titles in the last seven years and the Hornets have played in the championship game for the 11th straight year, an amazing run.

The Crusaders have lost in-state to St. Augustine (twice) and once to Holy Cross, whom they beat twice including in the state quarterfinals.

The Hornets and Crusaders are very familiar with each other deep into the playoffs.

Scotlandville edged Brother Martin 53-52 in the 2017 Division I state championship game. The Hornets handled the Crusaders 65-49 in the 2012 Class 5A semifinals. In the 2010 Class 5A title game, Brother Martin edged Scotlandville 55-54, the last state title for Brother Martin. The Crusaders have won six state championships overall.

Brother Martin coach Chris Biehl knows what to expect tonight.

“They are the reigning state champions and nationally ranked so I don’t have to worry about my team taking them lightly,” Biehl said. “They return all five starters from last year’s state championship team. They are extremely good, but we are hoping there are some things we can exploit. We know we have to play a near perfect game and we have to force them to do a few things that are uncharacteristic of them. My boys will give them all that we have.”

The Hornets are led by Virginia signee Reece Beekman while the Crusaders are led by Army commit T.J. Small. Scotlandville is a senior-laden team has outstanding players in Carvell Teasett, Jonathan Horton and Tai’reon Joseph, all seniors. Brother Martin has a solid supporting cast with Grant Delord, Davonn Moore and Brock Ranlett. Moore is a senior while Delord and Ranless are juniors.