Basketball Game Preview: Ruston Bearcats vs. Ouachita Parish Lions

A feisty cat fight is on tap when the Ruston Bearcats challenge the Ouachita Parish Lions at 7:00 p.m. on Friday... Ruston knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past five matchups -- so hopefully Ouachita Parish likes a good challenge.

Last Tuesday, Ruston strolled past Gibsland-Coleman with points to spare, taking the game 66-48. Given the Bearcats' advantage in MaxPreps' Louisiana basketball rankings (they are ranked 27th, while the Bulldogs are ranked 122nd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Ruston found their leader in sophomore Ahmad Hudson, who dropped a double-double on 24 points and 14 boards. Another player making a difference was Keshun Malcolm, who posted 13 points.

Ruston was working as a unit and finished the game with ten assists. That's the most assists they've managed all season.

Meanwhile, after a string of three wins, Ouachita Parish's good fortune finally ran out on Tuesday. They fell just short of West Monroe by a score of 66-64. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Lions have suffered since December 14, 2024.

Ruston pushed their record up to 12-4 with the victory, which was their fourth straight at home. The wins came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 68.3 points per game. As for Ouachita Parish, their loss was their first in the district, dropping their district record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 19-8.

Everything came up roses for Ruston against Ouachita Parish when the teams last played back in February of 2024, as the squad secured a 66-36 win. Does Ruston have another victory up their sleeve, or will Ouachita Parish turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.