Natchitoches Central boys reach Division I non-select title game after edging Ruston, 60-56

Chiefs now set their sights on defending champion Ponchatoula

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA – Last season, Natchitoches Central was one-and-done after the first day of the playoffs. 

This season, they are still alive on the final day.

The Chiefs defeated Ruston, 60-56, Thursday in the Division I non-select semifinals at Burton Coliseum. With the win, they will face Ponchatoula in the finals.

“Unbelievable fight by my guys,” NCHS coach Kolton Sepulvado said. “That’s a big thing that we hammer all year long. We have an unbelievable group of guys that work their butts off every single day.

"That’s our staple year in and year out; getting guys that believe in the work that it takes in order to get here.”

The Chiefs were hot from the field by shooting 51.1% from the floor and going 8-for-13 from 3-point range. Leading the charge was Chief senior Logan Smith, who scored a game-high 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting and drained five 3-pointers.

Trailing 32-28 at the half, NCHS (29-7) opened the second half on an 8-2 run and played from ahead from that point forward after making 60% of their shots in the second half and out-rebounding the Bearcats, 19-11.

“Once I hit one shot, I know the rest are going to fall,” Smith said. “Warming up before the game, I knew I was going to come in here and make shots.”

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Ruston (20-10) had an efficient night from Zhy Scott as he scored 17 points on 7-of-10 aim, but the Chief defense made it tough as the Bearcats shot 37.0% as a team – 24% in the second half.

“We had to get shots and get the ball inside,” Ruston coach Ryan Bond said. “Inside, for me, is penetration or getting the ball to Ahmad (Hudson) or Zhy. I just wanted us to play how we’ve been playing.”

Junior guard Aidan Anding (16 points) and Hudson, a freshman forward (12 points), also reached double-digits, but shot a combined 9-for-24 because of the NCHS press defense.

Ruston freshman Ahmad Hudson (11) throws down a dunk against Natchitoches Central in the Division I non-select semifinals March 7, 2024

“Ja’Dell Demery and Toby Adeleye battled and I’m proud of those guys,” Sepulvado said. “They fight and they compete.

"The big thing is with a big down there, your guards have to do well with ball pressure. You have to make have a perfect pass to get to that big, because we can go snatch it where nobody else can.”

Now, the Chiefs turn their attention to a Green Wave team that is looking to win back-to-back titles. Last season, they battled hard in the first half as the No. 24 seed before losing to Salmen, 77-63, in the first round to end an uncharacteristic 11-18 season.

“I want people to forget about this, but I don’t want them to forget about it,” Sepulvado said. “Being 11-18 at a program that for the last 15 years (has been great) is rare, but we were young and every single one of these guys were a part of that.

"We decided (last) March that’s not what we are. We’re Natchitoches Central basketball. We have to roll up our sleeves and get back to work.”

This is Ruston’s second straight season falling in the semifinals after losing last season to eventual champion Ponchatoula.

“Unfortunately, we graduate four seniors that have been dressing since they were freshmen and we are so appreciative of them,” Bond said. “But we’ll be back, I have confidence in these kids.”

Photo of Natchitoches Central's Logan Smith

-- LaMar Gafford | @SBLiveLA