Most Bears do not run away from challengers.  The Catholic Bears did though, just not in the usual manner.  These Bears first ran through, and then away from the competition at the 50th Louisiana Classic, held on January 13th and 14th at the Lamar-Dixon EXPO Center in Gonzales, Louisiana.

Coach Tommy Prochaska's team scored 244 points, which was 35 points higher than the second-place team's 209 point.  But that was not Brother Martin or Jesuit.  The Crusaders placed third while the Blue Jays placed fourth with two points behind Brother Martin.  It was perennial Division II powerhouse Teurlings Catholic who placed second with 209 points, outpointing Brother Martin by a half-point.  Holy Cross beat North Desoto 159 to 154 to place fourth.

Ironically, the Bears only had four finalists and did not have a single champion, yet had clinched the title well before the finals started.   An unproven theory of how this happened was researched just enough so as not to necessitate writing a “hypothesis."  Suffice it to say the Bears took advantage more of their matchups with Division II and Division III opponents.  By no means, though, can that be considered an excuse for their winning the event.  Nine Bears finished in the top six places.  Only seven did the same for Teurlings Catholic, while the Crusaders had eight.  Nine Blue Jays finished in the top-six places, but four placed sixth and one placed fifth.  Only two Bear placers were not in the top four spots.