LAKE CHARLES — The Brusly Panthers are going back to the state championship, and this time they refused to let history repeat itself.

Brusly defeated Northwest 72-56 in the Division II nonselect semifinals Tuesday night at Burton Coliseum, earning the program's first state championship appearance since 1984, when the Panthers claimed the Class 2A title with an 82-69 victory over Upper Point Coupee — the only state championship in school history.

Waiting for them Friday: top-seeded Wossman — the defending two-time champion that eliminated Brusly 56-52 in last year's semifinals on a controversial technical foul with under a minute to play.

"We owe Wossman one from last year," head coach Kirby Loupe said Wednesday. "It's our turn."

Arena Experience Proved to Be an Advantage

The Panthers wasted no time establishing control, racing out to a 35-6 lead through a quarter and a half. Loupe said the fast start was no accident — the result of deliberate preparation to handle Burton Coliseum's unique environment.

"When you play in a big arena like that, behind both backboards is a huge open area," Loupe said. "That depth perception is really tough for shooters initially. We knew that was our advantage — us having experience playing here the past two years, and Northwest never playing in this arena."

Loupe said he prepared the team by having them shoot at Southern University and LSU to simulate the venue's open space behind the backboard, and he brought the team to Burton a day early each year to watch games and absorb the atmosphere.

The strategy paid off. While Northwest spent the first quarter settling for jump shots, Brusly attacked the rim and got to the free-throw line.

Northwest (22-8) eventually found its footing, rallying hard and cutting the deficit to two in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Brusly responded, closing the game on a 16-4 run to seal it.

Senior Micah Bryant — who averaged 18 points per game as a junior — led the Panthers with 19 points. Senior Ryland Johnson added 15, and senior Ben Radford turned in a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

"We're Building Winning Men"

For Loupe, in his 11th year leading the program, Tuesday night represented the payoff of years of work — and a debt owed to players who came before.

"This isn't a last night award," he said. "This is a cultivating situation over the last three, four years. The seniors last year, the seniors the year before that — they don't get to share in this experience, but they are definitely part of the foundation."

Brusly has now reached the final four in seven consecutive seasons, a run Loupe said is no accident.

"That's building a winning culture," he said. "I don't really care about the wins and losses. I care about the process — the way we do things every day, on and off the court, being first class in every way."

He said the ultimate measure goes beyond basketball.

"We've built a winning basketball team, but we're building winning men," Loupe said. "Good citizens, good students, good husbands, good dads. That's what's important to me."

Friday in Lake Charles

Brusly faces Wossman in the Division II nonselect state championship on Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m. at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. Fans who can't make the trip can watch the game live at Walk-On's in Brusly, which will broadcast the game at tip-off.

Photo courtesy of Showtyme Murphy.