Kentwood continues to be Basile’s Scrooge

The Kentwood Kangaroos continued to play the role of Scrooge and ruin the holidays for the Basile Bearcats. Although it was a battle for most of the game, eventually the Roos did what they do and took control.
The Kangaroos bounced the Basile Bearcats out of the Class 1A state football playoffs.
The fifth-ranked Kangaroos beat the fourth-ranked Bearcats, 32-15, spoiling Basile’s unbeaten season in the quarterfinals. Basile ends its year at 11-1.
Next Friday, Kentwood will play in the semifinals against either top-seeded Haynesville or eighth-ranked Montgomery.
Against the Bearcats Friday night, Kentwood took an early lead following a nine-yard Bearcat punt. Quarterback Shyheim Carter hit Thomas Route for a 30-yard touchdown strike. The extra point made it 7-0 just two minutes into the game.
Basile, however, asserted itself on the next drive, keeping the ball for an unbelievable 80-yard, 11-minute scoring drive. Gabriel Fontenot and Kendrick Ceasar combined to move the ball down the field.
Twice on the drive, Bearcats coach Tony Bertrand rolled the dice on fourth down, succeeding both times. The most important fourth down conversion was inside the Roo’s 10-yardline. On a swinging gate formation, Mason Deshotel faked a handoff and threw a seven-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion pass to Blaise Hebert gave Basile the lead, 8-7.
Basile’s defense forced a Kentwood punt on the next drive, and the Bearcats took advantage of their early success.
On its third possession of the night, Basile extended its lead. Ceasar raced to a 58-yard touchdown, and Mark Ledoux’s kick gave Basile a 15-7 lead. Basile appeared to be in charge.
However, appearances can be deceiving.
Kentwood reeled four straight touchdowns on each of its next four possessions, putting the game out of reach before the end of the third quarter.
On the next play after Ceasar’s long touchdown, Carter scored on his own long run, a 52-yard QB keeper. The two-point conversion failed, but the Bearcats’ lead was cut down to 15-13.
Kentwood’s defense forced a Basile punt, and Carter took advantage again. This time, the Roo signal caller sprinted 75 yards to paydirt. Although the two-point conversion failed again, Kentwood retook the lead, 19-15, never to look back.
The Kangaroos received the second half kickoff, and they extended their lead on another big play. Facing fourth-and-four, Carter hit Leslie Collins for a 29-yard touchdown strike. Once again, the two-point conversion failed, but Kentwood was firmly in charge, 25-15.
Basile turned the ball over on downs on its next drive, and Kentwood took over on its own 38-yardline. After a three-yard loss on first down, the Kangaroos went to the air for two long pass plays. Carter hit Delvonte Brown for 30 yards, then scored on a 35-yard strike to Tommie Diamond. This time, the Roos hit the extra point, setting the score, 32-15.
Although Kentwood threatened to score near the end of the fourth quarter, the Kangaroos seemed more interested in running out the clock than piling on the points.
“Our boys really played hard tonight,” commented Bertrand. “At the half we had a lot of momentum and a lot of positivity in the locker room. When they scored on a fourth and five, I think it really broke our will. It changed our game plan.”
Basile finishes the year with a record of 11-1 overall.
“I am looking forward to the next couple of years here,” Bertrand said. “We have some great players and great fans here. This past season may have been the best so far, but we feel like we can play with those big teams. The future is really exciting.”