W-M wins final game at Clyde Wilkins Gym, earn first semifinal berth since 2017
Published 11:11 am Saturday, March 7, 2026
Washington-Marion will play in a brand-new gym next season, so they made sure their final game at Clyde Wilkins Gym was a memorable one. The third-ranked Charging Indians beat No. 6 John F. Kennedy 68-52 to return to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association boys basketball state tournament for the first time since 2017.
W-M (20-8) will play 10-time state champion No. 2 Peabody in the Select Division II semifinals on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Burton Complex. The Warhorses beat the Charging Indians 64-42 in the regional round last season.
After a close first quarter, W-M turned a four-point lead into a 15 point lead, 36-21 at halftime.
The Cougars closed the gap to five points midway through the third quarter, W-M closed out the quarter on a 11-3 run sparked by a three-pointer by Khali Celestine to push its lead back to 13 points, 50-37.
Celestine (16 pts) and fellow seniors Monte Farmer (18 pts), Victor Fisher Jr. (13 pts) and Landon Duhon (14 pts) accounted for 61 of W-M’s 68 points.
Cahri Coleman led the Cougars (23-9) with 13 points.
