Franklin boys break long title drought with victory for Division IV non-select championship

Hornets' 50-45 win is Franklin's first title since 1958

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA – Lakeview and Franklin had similar recent histories at the LHSAA boys basketball tournament as being agonizingly close, yet so far away. 

This year, one would finally break a long-suffering drought.

For the first time since winning the Class 1A title in 1958, Franklin earned the Division IV non-select title after defeating Lakeview, 50-45, Friday at Burton Coliseum.

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“It hasn’t hit me just yet, but I think once we leave the Coliseum and see the wave of maroon and all the community, that’s when it will hit me,” Hornets' coach Tremayne Johnson said.

Franklin (24-7) had off nights from star seniors Jay’Shaun Johnson and J’kylon Ceaser with eight points each, but the Hornets still managed to shoot 42% from the field behind 12 points from junior forward Treyshaun Mack – the game’s Most Outstanding Player.

The Hornets were solid defensively as they forced 22 turnovers thanks to their style of play.

“We’ve been playing like this for the last four years when I took over the program,” Johnson said. “These guys come in, take the coaching and it transfers to the court.”

Also on the back of their minds was how close the Hornets were last season to winning a title. Franklin led North Central with less than a minute remaining, but surrendered six unanswered points to lose, 59-55.

“We had to learn from our mistakes from last year,” Ceaser said. “That’s what won us the game.”

Franklin senior Jay'Shaun Johnson drives down the lane against Lakeview during the Division IV non-select championship game at Burton Coliseum on March 8, 2024

Lakeview (27-7) was clinging to a slim deficit late in the third but dug itself in a deeper hole and trailed, 39-30, after back-to-back possessions leading in points.

“At crucial moments, we didn’t do what we were supposed to do,” Lakeview coach Brian Williams said. “On the defensive end, I thought we were very concerned with Johnson and Caesar. But I just felt like some of my other players didn’t do their jobs because their other guys scored.”

Lakeview was led by Dereon Joseph’s 21 points on 6-for-7 shooting from the field and 9-for-12 from the line. Seniors Andre Sowell and Alonzo Driver only scored nine and eight points, respectively, on a combined 6-of-23 shooting.

-- LaMar Gafford | @SBLiveLA