The Arcadia Hornets pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the 2021 LHSAA Marah Madness in the semifinals. They proved they are the real deal with a 51-38 win over the No. 3 White Castle Bulldogs on Friday afternoon at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
Arcadia’s calm patient style stymied the high-scoring Bulldogs. The charity stripe mattered towards the end as Arcadia shot 14 for 16 in the final quarter to inch point by point past White Castle.
Arcadia was led by Most Valuable Player Khyrese Taylor who scored 15 points. Off the bench, Demarrion Richardson’s two second-half threes pushed the Hornets with 12 total points. Ja’Qualon Crane added 9. Tyler Jefferson chipped in 7. Anthony Key and Logan Reese each had 4.
White Castle was led by Kevin Marting Jr. with 12 points.
Neither team could get away from the other. White Castle got a two-point lead only twice in the game. Arcadia could only muster as much as a five-point lead in the first three quarters.
Jalan Washington gave the Bulldogs the early 32-31 lead in the fourth. Taylor found where Arcadia would be almost the entire fourth quarter: the free-throw line. Taylor tied the game by making one of two. White Castle had gotten into foul trouble late in the third quarter with Jervontae Green and Keith Landry both at four fouls heading into the final quarter. Richardson’s drive to the goal was successful in regaining the lead. White Castle countered with a basket by Damion Pierce. Taylor retook the lead with another basket. A foul sent Martin to the line for the Bulldogs to tie at 36. Three fouls by White Castle equaled six points for the Hornets. The third foul sent Green to the bench. Martin closed the gap to four with his trip to the charity stripe. Four more fouls allow Arcadia seven points and an 11 point lead. Martin fouled out with 51 seconds remaining. Richardson added a final basket to give the Hornets the 51-38 state championship win.
The championship caps a rough road plagued by canceled games on COVID-19 and large gaps in playing time for the Hornets. The Hornets persevered with a 19-1 record including a shared district title with Calvary.
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