Elite Boys' Zachary Snares Sweet Sixteen Bid!
To close out 2026 Boys Basketball Marsh Madness, Ruston and Zachary put on a show for the LHSAA Non-Select DI championship.
The final game of the 2026 LHSAA Boys Basketball Marsh Madness was just the finale fans at Burton Complex were hoping for between No. 1 seed Zachary and No. 2 seed Ruston.
With the Non-Select Division I championship on the line, both squads left it all out on the floor. In the end, the Broncos were too much to handle beating the Bearcats, 63-60 to go back to back as state champs. For Zachary, the trip to Lake Charles has become a given as it was here last year hoisting up the championship trophy while this was the Bearcats first time back to the finals since 1988.
Having past experience paid off for Zachary as its star players showed no fear. Headlining the Broncos offense to no one’s surprise, was guard Ian Edmond. The junior guard typically averages a team-high 19 points per game and delivered those same kind of numbers in the finals.
Edmond ended the first half with 12 points scoring over half of his points from beyond the arc. He was just as effective in the second half going on to lead the Broncos with 20 points along with three rebounds and a steal on his way to being named the MVP of the game. Whenever the Broncos needed a bucket, they turned to Edmond while Ruston turned to junior Ahmad Hudson and sophomore Darren Ford.