Knowing how to win

BASILE -- It is hard enough to not only win consistently, but to also have the type of success that allows a program to feed upon that success year in and year out.
But, somehow this year’s Evangeline Parish Coach of the Year, Basile head coach Kevin Bertrand, has learned the formula for that type of success.
The veteran skipper of the Bearcats has earned the distinction of parish coach of the year in back-to-back seasons.
One of the reasons that Bertrand believes his program has been at the top of their game over the past five years of his tenure, is the consistency in his coaching staff.
“Whenever you have a steady coaching staff where there isn’t a whole lot of turnover, the players are brought along only knowing those coaches,” stated Bertrand. “So, they know what is expected and how to perform for these guys. I continue to say this, but the three assistants I have on staff have been here longer than me. I’m technically the new guy.”
“They have done a tremendous job of being steady and treating the players fairly,” Bertrand continued. “My assistants work so very hard to create consistency so there is an expectation of how things are done and what we want the players to accomplish while they are here.”
That fluidity has translated into some very prosperous years since Bertrand’s arrival. Over the past five seasons the Bearcats have sported an overall record of 44-19 and four trips to the Class 1A quarter-finals.
After two 11-2 seasons in a row in his first two years at the helm, the Bearcats needed a rebuild in year three. During that season, Basile went 3-7 during the year and fell in the first round of the playoffs.
But, the last two seasons have been super productive for the Bertrand and the Bearcats. In 2017, Basile went 7-3 in the regular season and righted the ship after a rocky 1-3 start to make it back to the quarter-finals.
This past year, the Bearcats jumped out to a much quicker start, going 2-2. After that, Basile punished their remaining opponents, by utilizing a suffocating defense and an explosive offense.
During their last six regular season games, Basile out scored their opponents 202-69, which included a 2-0 forfeit win over South Cameron. In their last four games, the Bearcats averaged 42.75 points per game.
Bertrand feels the fast start was a testament to his players and their maturity.
“Obviously having the type of experience we brought back this season was a tremendous asset,” said Bertrand. “With that experience we were able to hit the ground running. We did not have to spend as much time at the start of the season installing our schemes, because our guys knew what we were doing. It was more of tweaking what was already in place. I think our preparation for the season was outstanding.”
After losing to Class 3A semi-finalist Iota in the opening contest, Basile reeled off two wins in a row, beating Mamou and Sacred Heart in a knock down, drag out contest.
Game three of the season saw the Bearcats leave the winning track, as they fell to their nemesis and bitter rival St. Ed’s. This loss marked the third year in a row that Basile lost to the Blue Jays.
Always a heated game, Bertrand down played his team’s recent failures to the club that has stripped the Bearcats of the chance at a district title over those seasons.
“They (St. Ed’s) have had some pretty good teams over the past few years,” commented Bertrand. “Sometimes is becomes a match-up problem. But, bottom line is we’ve picked the wrong game not to execute and they have been good enough to make us pay for our mistakes. This year, I thought we had a really good chance against them until the rain. If we play them on a dry field it maybe a different outcome.”
After that heartbreaking loss to the Blue Jays, Basile did not look back, rolling to an eight game winning streak that ended against Kentwood in the third round of the playoffs.
The game against the Kangaroos marked the fifth time that a Basile teams has met up with the Tangipahoa Parish ball club in the last eight years and the second time in Bertrand’s tenure.
Unfortunately, the Bearcats were unsuccessful in bringing about a win over Kentwood, dropping a 44-14 decision to the Kangaroos.
Despite that loss, Bertrand tends to look on the bright side when it comes to having to play Kentwood in the post-season.
“It has been a blessing and a curse to have to play those guys,” said Bertrand. “First of all, meeting them in the quarter-finals means there are not a whole lot of teams left in the playoffs. I know a lot of schools that would traded places with us in a heartbeat. That is a testament to our team to get to that point. But, they are a very talented team that are heads and shoulders above everyone else. It is what it is.”
Not that this season is in the books Bertrand can lament on the senior class that has brought the program their success over the past four years and get preparations ready for the upcoming season.
“With this group of seniors, leadership has never been an issue,” stated Bertrand. “They have always shown the other players how to become winners. Starting in the weight room and during summer work outs to the film room, our seniors have never wavered on being front and center in the direction they wanted this team to take. I can’t say enough about them. They will be sorely missed.”