UPDATED WITH STORY: Lumberjacks enjoy the spotlight before heading to semifinal

PATTERSON – They’ve played basketball together since they were little. Now they’ve got a shot at the big time.

Patterson High’s boys basketball players were treated to a media day at the school’s gym Monday as they prepare for Wednesday’s Non-Select Division III state semifinal at Lake Charles’ Burton Coliseum. A win in Wednesday’s 4:45 p.m. semifinal against top-seeded Port Allen would put the Lumberjacks in Saturday’s championship final against either Winnfield or French Settlement.

In Non-Select Division IV, Franklin will play White Castle in a 6:15 p.m. Tuesday semifinal , also at Burton Coliseum.

Patterson reached the Division III semifinals by beating Rayville in a 58-53 thriller Friday.

“I’m still in disbelief,” said guard Kendall Francois. “I thank God every day.”

Mayor Rodney Grogan, sporting a No. 34 Lumberjacks jersey for the event, joked that he could have used a defibrillator or a pacemaker during Friday’s game.

“On behalf of the city of Patterson, we commend you all,” Grogan told the players.

Head football coach Garrett Kreamer added his praise.

“I can’t say enough about the team and the coaching staff and what they’ve done …,” Kreamer said. “Let’s go over there and get it done.”

Head coach Warrell Span said this group of players has been together since Biddy basketball.

Now he takes the group into a their biggest game in a big arena. They’ll leave Tuesday, stop to eat in Lafayette and, catch the Franklin-White Castle game after arriving in Lake Charles.

“I need them to understand that there’s a lot of stuff you’ll run into …,” Span said. “We’re here for a mission. The mission is to win.”

Assistant coach Terrance Johnson ran down the list of top Lumberjacks: sophomore Carlos Brooks, son of another assistant coach of the same name, who has provided smart play at point guard; Francois at the other guard; Khylin Brooks, who “does a lot of stuff for us,” Johnson said. “He makes us go a lot”; Demond Davis Jr., who has made an impact in only his second year of basketball; Taij Tillman with his unselfish play off the bench; and Josiah Jennings, who recently signed a letter of intent to play football for Mississippi College.

“[Jennings] has come a long way,” Johnson said. “I think that in the last few weeks, he’s caught on to the idea that he’s a leader.”

Patterson finished the regular season at 20-4. The Lumberjacks had a bye in the bi-regional round, then beat Caldwell Parish 61-47 in the regionals before advancing with the Rayville win.

Khylin Brooks has faith in his team as the Lumberjacks head into the semifinal.

“If you trust your teammates,” he said, “you can do big things together.”

The Lumberjack media day was held on a basketball court named for Carey “Mac” Staples, the coach who led the Lumberjacks to the state semifinals in 1977. Staples died in 2017.

Patterson boys basketball roster
0 Carlos Brooks Jr.
3 Khylin Brooks
4 Kendall Francois
34 Demond Davis Jr.
23 Josiah Jennings
2 Taij Tillman
13 Kobe Marcel
11 Zakylin Taylor
14 Ke'ron Ray
15 Brayden Clarkston
22 Jalen Young
24 Aiden Gowan