Bogalusa’s quest for this year’s District 7-3A title came up short Thursday, as the Lumberjacks lost to Amite, 73-47, at home.
The teams entered Thursday’s game, which was the final regular season league game with identical 6-1 district records, so Thursday’s game was for the district championship.
“Like I told the kids, we went 6-2 in district. We were hoping with a win tonight we would’ve been district champs two years in a row, but that didn’t happen. We came up a little short,” Bogalusa coach Ken Matthews said.
Bogalusa scored the game’s first three points, as B.J. Mingo hit a jumper and split from the line, but Amite scored the next six points.
Devonta Smith, who had a game-high 17 points, hit for two before Devonte Lee was successful on a pair of attempts from the line and Tyrus Wheat hit a field goal after grabbing an offensive board to make it 6-3 with 4:58 left in the first quarter.
Bogalusa tied Amite at 10-10 with 1:28 on the clock, but never did retake the lead.
Amite finished the first quarter on an 8-2 run and had an 18-12 lead going into the second quarter.
The Warriors extended the lead in the second quarter. Their biggest advantage of the first half was 14 at 36-22.
Bogalusa scored five straight at that point. Thomas Turner, who led the Lumberjacks with 15 points, hit one of his three 3-pointers and Laster Hills made a layup to get the margin down to nine. It was 36-27 with 12 seconds left, but Amite’s Smith hit a layup before the first half ended to make it 38-27 at the break.
Amite broke the game open to begin the second half, taking a 51-30 lead with 3:19 on the clock. Bogalusa got within 14 at 51-37, but could get no closer.
Amite led 58-37 through three before going on to the 73-47 win.
Tramarcus Levi and Jaylen Brickmore tallied nine points apiece for the Lumberjacks while Mingo and Hills posted six each and Dominique Tillman added two. Levi hit a 3-pointer.
Bogalusa caps off the regular season with a 17-11 overall record and 6-2 record in district. The Lumberjacks only two district losses were to Amite. Bogalusa is 7-2 in its past nine games.
Bogalusa is 25th in the unofficial LHSAA Class 3A power rankings.
Wheat finished with 15 points for Amite.
Izarius Grady had 12, including three 3-pointers, and Josh Montgomery posted 10.
Lee had nine while Troy Wyre posted four and Sam Holden, Tyler Wyre and Dereon Edwards all had two.
Amite is 21-7 overall going its regular season finale Friday, Feb. 17, and the Warriors finished league play at 7-1.