Heartbreak for Bell City in Class B finals

Published 8:00 am Saturday, March 7, 2026

Bell City had high hopes on Friday that it would end its state championship drought and erase the memory of last year’s loss in the final. But the No. 1 Bruins will have to wait another year after a heartbreaking 51-50 loss to No. 2 Pitkin in the Class B state championship game at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state tournament in Hammond.

It was the second consecutive season that the Bruins (26-3) lost in the finals. In 2025, they were edged by Fairview 72-65. The Bruins won their only state championship in 1973.

Bell City trailed 42-36 with six minutes, 35 seconds left in the game and managed to pull even with the Tigers with a 9-3 run. Klancie Hebert made a pair of free throws with three minutes, 19 seconds left to tie the game at 45-45.

With six seconds left, Peyton Herpin, who led the Bruins with 21 points and eight rebounds, grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled with a chance to tie the game, but made 1 of 2 free throws.

Hebert had a solid all-around game for the Bruins with 11 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals.

Pitkin (35-5) won its first state championship since 1995.

Charley Lentz led Pitkin with 13 points and nine rebounds.