Three Lafayette Christian senior basketball players have the opportunity to complete their prep careers with four consecutive state championships.
The top-seeded Knights secured a spot in their eighth straight title game by handling No. 5 Bunkie 58-37 in the Division II select semifinals at the University Center in Hammond on Thursday afternoon.
This is the last go-round for seniors Jada Richard, Eve Alexander and Indy Hebert.
"First and foremost, our work is not done yet," LCA coach Errol Rogers said. "Part of our journey is finished. Now we have to finish the other part."
LCA (30-1) never trailed against the Panthers (22-5), scoring the game's first four points on free throws. LSU signee Jada Richard drained buzzer-beaters at the end of the first and third quarters and finished with 33 points on 14-of-22 shooting.
"To be honest, I feel like Bunkie did a great job," said Richard, who had four steals, three assists, two rebounds and was 4 for 4 from the free-throw line. "They were definitely clogging the paint. I just had to stay poised, play my game, let the shots and points come to me, and trust in my teammates."
Eve Alexander, Taelyn Taylor and Richard accounted for all but one of their team's points. Alexander (5 of 11 FG) totaled 12 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Taylor (5 of 10 FG) added 12 points, six rebounds, a steal and an assist.
"In the first 30 seconds, I hurt my right hand," Alexander said. "I had to use my left hand, which opened up a lot of shots with the way they were guarding me. There were some good passes up top from my teammates."
The Knights shot 88.9% from the field in the third quarter, making 8 of 9 field goals. Richard knocked down 8 of 10 shots during a span that stretched from late in the first quarter to early in the third.
LCA, which will face No. 3 Madison Prep (25-10) in the finals on Saturday at 2 P.M., grabbed seven offensive rebounds in the first quarter while attempting 19 field goals (and making six). Bunkie shot 2 for 6 and trailed 16-9 after one.
"It's a drive for four (state titles)," Richard said. "I don't think a lot of people realize that out of the success we've had, we're very humble. I feel like that's why we're blessed.
"When we win, we don't really get excited because it's like we're supposed to win."
Rogers said that won't be an easy task against Madison Prep, which advanced via forfeit after No. 2 Vandebilt Catholic self-reported a violation involving an academically ineligible player.
The Chargers, who won 11 of their final 12 regular season games with the only loss coming to Vandebilt Catholic, have two wins over Woodlawn-BR (Div. I select finalist) and wins over tournament teams Doyle, University Lab, Parkview Baptist, Liberty Magnet, Bunkie and Southern Lab.
"Madison Prep has gotten so much better since we played them," said Rogers, whose team defeated the Chargers 54-35 on Jan. 4. "They have players who didn't play against us. They have a talented freshman. They have a big girl who is 6-foot-2. I kept up with them during the year. Every time I watched them, it seemed like they got better."