High School

Freshman Curtis McAllister helps Country Day claim eighth state title with win over No. 1 Calvary Baptist: Updates

No. 3 Cajuns down top-seeded Cavaliers, 59-56, in Louisiana Division III select boys basketball championship behind Outstanding Player Curtis McAllister, the son of former NFL running back Deuce McAllister

Mike Coppage

Calvary Baptist can win its first basketball state championship Friday.
Calvary Baptist can win its first basketball state championship Friday. / Calvary Baptist Basketball Instagram

Third-seeded Country Day challenges No. 1 Calvary Baptist for the Division III select Louisiana high school boys basketball state championship at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles on Friday at 4 p.m.

Pregame

Country Day (25-6) is vying for its eighth state title and sixth under coach Mike McGuire, according to Darrell Williams of The New Orleans Advocate. A win over the Cavaliers (28-3) would be the Cajuns' first crown since 2019.

The Cajuns, who have only two seniors, defeated No. 6 Catholic-New Iberia and No. 2 Dunham in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Sophomore Kellen Brewer scored 23 points in the 54-53 win over Dunham. Junior Herman Dyson was also in double-digits with 14 points.

Freshman Curtis McAllister, who averages eight points per game, scored the winning basket in the semifinals. Senior Andrew Nelson and junior Brennan White are starters. Eighth-grader Rhys Diley came off the bench and supplied key points in the quarterfinals.

The Cavaliers, who lost in the final in recent years to Newman, Southern Lab and twice to Crescent City, beat Country Day in the 2022 semifinals, 58-50. Coach Victor Morris' crew blew out No. 5 Rosepine in the semifinals, 87-55, behind 20 points from sophomore guard Tyrone Jamison.

Jamison, a top-rated prospect, is one of four Cavaliers averaging double figures. The 6-foot-2 sophomore scores 15 points per game. Sophomores Jaiden Hall and Robert Wright and senior Bubba Strong each average 10 points. Junior forward G'Marrion Scott (6-foot-4) posted a double-double in the semifinal (10 points, 10 rebounds). Justin Houston (6-foot-10) is a senior starter.

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First quarter

-Sophomore Jaiden Hall 3-pointer for Calvary. Cavs 3, Cajuns 0

-Sophomore Keller Brewer scores for the Cajuns. Robert Wright with a 3 for Calvary. Cavs 6, Cajuns 2. First foul on Country Day's Herman Dyson. 6:50, 1st.

-Cajuns get two free throws. Cavs 6, Cajuns 4 6:26, 1st.

-TJ Jamison jumper. Cavs 8, Cajuns 4 5:04, 1st. First foul on Jaiden Hall. Second team foul on Calvary Baptist.

-Senior captain Bubba Strong picks up his second foul. G'Marrion Scott misses a massive two-point dunk, the ball takes a long rebound, and Keller Brewer makes a free throw for Country Day. Five wins over Class 5A schools for the Cajuns. Cavs 8, Cajuns 5 4:17, 1st.

-Freshman Curtis McAllister, son of former NFL RB Deuce McAllister, gives Country Day the lead. Cajuns 9, Cavs 8 Timeout. 3:36, 1st. McAllister (2 of 2 FG) four points.

-Herman Dyson called for his second foul. "The Heart and Soul" of the Country Day team, according to LHSAA Network commentator Eric Mouton. Cajuns 9, Cavs 8 2:59, 1st.

-Robert Wright 3 for Calvary Baptist. Cavs 11, Cajuns 9 1:50, 1st.

-The eighth-grader, Rhys Diley, scores for Country Day. Calvary Baptist answers. Cavs 13, Cajuns 11 1:08, 1st.

-Herman Dyson drives to the goal near the end of the quarter. Misses twice but gets the rebound both times and is fouled. Dyson makes two free throws. Cavs 13, Cajuns 13 End 1.

Second quarter

-Bubba Strong makes a jumper for Calvary Baptist. Cavs 15, Cajuns 13 7:24, 2nd.

-Brewer called for a travel. He gets the rebound of a Calvary Baptist miss. Cavs 15, Cajuns 13 6:14, 2nd.

-McAllister scores again. Six points for the freshman. Cajuns 15, Cavs 15 5:40, 2nd Quarter. First foul on Tyrone Jamison.

-Cavs 16, Cajuns 15 4:27, 2nd.

-Only five points scored this quarter.

-Kellen Brewer (five points) turnaround jumper. Cajuns 17, Cavs 16 3:25, 2nd.

-McAllister blocks a 3, scoops up the ball and makes a lay-up. Calvary Baptist turns it over. Rhys Diley scores. McAllister corner 3. Cajuns 25, Cavs 18 1:48, 2nd. Cajuns went on a 10-0 run.

-Scott scores off an offensive rebound. Four straight points by Calvary Baptist. Zachary Borrego scores for Country Day. Cajuns 27, Cavs 20 1:01, 2nd.

-Jamison makes two free throws with no time on the clock. Finishes the first half with five points. He's the only Cavalier who played the whole half. Curtis McAllister leads all scorers with 11 points. Cajuns 27, Cavs 22 Halftime

Halftime: Cajuns shooting 43% from the field (10 of 23 FG). 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. Calvary Baptist shooting 35% (8 of 23 FG). 3 of 6 from the free-throw line. Wright and Jamison with five points apiece for Calvary Baptist.

Third quarter

-Calvary Baptist led by six points in the first half.

-Cajuns get four quick points. Cajuns 31, Cavs 22. Brewer and McAllister with the buckets. Jamison (seven points) counters for Calvary Baptist. Cajuns 31, Cavs 25 6:43, 2nd.

-Brewer blocks a 3-pointer, and the Cavaliers are called for a foul. It's on Robert Wright.

-Tyrone Jamison fuels a Calvary Baptist run with four points. He's up to 12 points. Cajuns 31, Cavs 29 timeout 5:40, 3rd. Jamison responsible for a 7-0 Cavs run over the last 90 seconds.

-Jamison shooting one free throw out of the timeout. It's good. Cajuns 31, Cavs 30. Dyson gets the bounce for Country Day to end an 8-0 Cavs run, but Jaiden Hall hits a 3. Cavs 33, Cajuns 33.

-3-pointer from Robert Wright. Cavs 36, Cajuns 33 4:19, 3rd. Third foul on Herman Dyson. Warning on Country Day coach Mike McGuire.

-Tyrone Jamison makes a corner 3 and gets the foul on Herman Dyson. That's huge. Fourth foul on Dyson. Cavs 40, Cajuns 35 3:46, 3rd.

-Jamison has 17 points. Craig Davis scores for Calvary Baptist. Timeout Country Day. Cavs have made their last six field goals. Cavs 42, Cajuns 35 3:19, 3rd. 22 points in the first half for Calvary Baptist. 20 in a little more than half of the third quarter.

-Country Day 4-of-12 from the field this quarter. Cavs came from nine points down to a seven-point lead.

-Third foul on Calvary Baptist's Jaiden Hall. Eric Mouton said the sophomore is the Cavs' best on-ball defender. Keller Brewer scores. The sophomore has nine points for Country Day. Cavs 42, Cajuns 37 2:09, 3rd.

-Rhys Diley 3-pointer. Cavs 42, Cajuns 40 1:39, 3rd.

-Craig Davis has six points off the bench for Calvary Baptist. Cavs 44, Cajuns 40. Kellen Brewer makes two free throws. Cavs 44, Cajuns 42 1:16, 3rd.

-Country Day putting the eighth-grader, Diley, on Jamison. Country Day forces a turnover (five-second violation). 11th turnover on Calvary Baptist. Cavs 44, Cajuns 42 :43 left in the quarter.

-Cavs 44, Cajuns 42 end 3

Fourth quarter

-Bubba Strong scores and is fouled. Blocking foul on the Cajuns. Dyson on the bench with four fouls. Cavs 46, Cajuns 42.

-Lost the Internet connection for a few minutes. Cavs 47, Cajuns 45 5:12 remaining. Timeout

-Great pass down low to 6-foot-10 Justin Houston. High-percentage shot. Cavs 49, Cajuns 47. Brewer delivers with two points for Country Day. Brewer draws a foul on Justin Houston. Cajuns can tie or take the lead. 4:20 left.

-Herman Dyson (10 points), playing with four fouls, gets the putback off the glass. We're tied at 49-49. Timeout

-Cavs 49, Cajuns 49 3:29 left

-Dyson (12 points) lay-up for Country Day. Cajuns 51, Cavs 49 2:24, 4th.

-Jaiden Hall drive into the lane. Cajuns 51, Cavs 51 1:58, 4th.

-Dyson assist to Curtis McAllister, who has 17 points. Cajuns 53, Cavs 51 Timeout 1:06 remaining.

-Foul on Rhys Diley, who is guarding Tyrone Jamison. After the in-bounds, a jab step by Jamison who sinks a short jumper and is fouled by Diley. Missed the free throw. Dyson scores a lay-up. Seven ties, six lead changes. Timeout. Cajuns 55, Cavs 53 32.4 seconds remaining.

-Kellen Brewer grabs a defensive rebound off a Tyrone Jamison miss. Cajuns 55, Cavs 53 22.6 seconds remaining. Herman Dyson (4 of 4 FT) shooting two. He makes the first free throw. Makes the second. Corner 3 by Bubba Strong (11 points) for Calvary Baptist. Timeout Cajuns 57, Cavs 56 16.4 seconds remaining.

-Country Day has made 10 of 12 free throws.

-Rhys Diley fouled with 14.2 seconds left. Misses one free throw, makes the second. Cajuns 58, Cavs 56 14.2 seconds left.

-Calvary Baptist misses. Herman Dyson misses a free throw. Makes the second. Cajuns 59, Cavs 56 7.1 seconds left. Timeout.

-Metairie Park Country Day Cajuns 59, Calvary Baptist Cavaliers 56 Final

Postgame

-Country Day wins its eighth state championship, outscoring Calvary Baptist in the fourth quarter, 17-12. Dyson and McAllister scored 17 points apiece. Dyson made 5 of 9 FG and 7-of-8 FT. McAllister (8 of 13 FG) named Outstanding Player. He had nine rebounds. Brewer added 13 points. All three are underclassmen.

-Tyrone Jamison 19 points for Calvary Baptist. Bubba Strong added 11. Jaiden Hall and Robert Wright had eight points apiece.

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Mike Coppage
MIKE COPPAGE

Mike Coppage is a Louisiana-based veteran reporter with decades of experience covering recruiting and high school sports for Scout, Rivals, The Acadiana Advocate and The Daily Iberian. He has been freelancing for High School On SI since 2024.

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