The Zwolle Hawks are the Division V back-to-back state champions with a 45-41 win over No. 2 Anacoco Indians. Though trophies back to Sabine Parish are not uncommon, this one will hold special. The Hawks claimed their 17th state title allowing them to surpass Southern Lab as the team with the most state titles by a school. The Hawks will also be the only Division V Nonselect State Champions as Class B and C will split back into their respective classes and combine the Non-select and Select titles. This was the Hawks’ 7th of the past 9 state title appearances. The MVP for the Hawks was Howard Etheridge with 13 points. Preston Sanders contributed a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Alec Williams also popped 12 points. “Feels great,” Zwolle head coach Bradley Lauren said in the post-game news conference provided by LHSAA Network. “We talk about this all the time talking about winning the state championship and we just had this conversation in the locker room. Coach Palmer said we have a chance to make history. Palmer said,’ What to be the first back-to-back since 2012?’. Howard Etheridge responded ‘No, 17 state championships.’. That’s what it means to us.”. Zwolle reached the state title game with the fifth matchup of the season against No. 4 Negreet Indians. The pair had split the series 2-2 before the Hawks punched a ticket to the state championship in the 61-51 win. Negreet had given the Hawks two of their three losses on the season.
Two other teams competed for state titles and headed back home as state runner-ups.
Lakeview Gator reached the Division IV Nonselect finals but ran into a Franklin team with destiny on their side falling 50-45 in the loss. Franklin Hornets won their first state title since 1958. The Hornets fell in the finals last season to North Central. The Gators fell victim to the Franklin in ‘23 in the quarterfinals. Lakeview advanced to the finals with a semifinal 54-26 win over Pickering. Andre Sowell scored 16 and Dareon Joseph added 15 in the win over the Red Devils. Lakeview’s last championship appearance was in 2015 and its only title came in 2003.
Red River Bulldogs made a Cinderella run as the No. 13 seed to the Division III Nonselect state championship. The Bulldogs advanced to the state championship after eliminating No. 8 Donaldsonville 54-45 in the semifinals. The highest seed among the final four was No. 6 Marksville. No. 6 Marksville won their semifinal matchup 60-52 over No. 7 Richwood. The Marksville Tigers broke the glass slipper for the Bulldogs as they claimed the school’s first boys’ basketball title in the 67-59 win. The Tigers last basketball state championship came from a three-peat by the Lady Tigers from 1915-1917.
Four local teams came up short in the semifinals. Ringgold fell to eventual state champion Franklin 63-61 in the Division IV semifinal. The Redskins made their first appearance since 2005. J’bari Adams led Ringgold with 22 points. Jordyn Wilson contributed 15. AnTravion Kinsey knocked down 10 points. Third time was not a. harm for the Lincoln Prep as they reached the semifinals but came short 62-55 against eventual state champion Crescent City. Steven Burks III finished with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Devin Burton added 12 points and 10 rebounds. As mentioned before, Negreet came up short against Zwolle. Gibsland-Coleman was the third of four local teams in Division V. The Bulldogs made their third consecutive appearance in Marsh Madness and was the only Class C school to reach Marsh Madness in Division V. The Bulldogs fell 50-41 to the Anacoco Indians.
This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links. I will only recommend products that I have personally used! Learn more on my Private Policy page.