Twelve years of frustration for Ferriday High School’s men basketball program finally came to an end as the Trojans defeated Jackson 68-51 to advance to the Top 28 Tournament of Champions for the first time since 1989, when they won the state title.

This year’s Top 28 Tournament will be held at the Cajundome in Lafayette.

&uot;We’re very excited, but I told them don’t just be happy with getting down there,&uot; said Ferriday head coach James Davis. &uot;Our goal all season has been to win the state championship.

Ferriday, 23-11, will play Many in a Class 2A semifinal game at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

&uot;I don’t know much about them, but from what I’ve seen on film, they’re a good ball club,&uot; Davis said. &uot;Number 25 and number 22, they’re good perimeter shooters.&uot;

For Ferriday to advance to the championship game, Davis said defense, turnovers and free-throw shooting will be the determining factors.

&uot;We’re going to have to play some good defense to block those guys out. Limit them to one shot. Minimizing our turnovers,&uot; he said. &uot;We missed only three out of 12 or 13 free throws (against Jackson), but I told my players when they get free shots they’ve got to convert. They (Many) are good at hitting free throws.&uot;

Davis is looking for all his seniors, especially Jason Scott and Derrick Williams, as well as junior Jackie Thomas and sophomore LaKendrick Nix off the bench to pick up their games.

Scott, Nix and Thomas said they all very excited about playing in the Top 28 Tournament.

For Scott and fellow seniors Derrick Williams, Marques Webber, D’Juan Banks, Bobby Sheppard and Lawrence Washington, this will be their only shot at bringing the state title back to Ferriday.

&uot;It don’t even feel real yet,&uot; Scott said. &uot;I thought we had a good chance last year. It’s good. It’s even better with this being my last year here.&uot;

&uot;It’s kinda like a college environment, but we can’t let it get in our heads,&uot; Nix said. &uot;I had come to my mind that we were going to make it last year, but we came up a little short. I knew we could make it, though.&uot;

&uot;I’m looking forward to winning,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;I think we have a very good ball club. We’re very disciplined and we play good together.&uot;

And even though Davis said the 2001-’02 season would be a rebuilding season, &uot;we’re going to work hard to get there next year.&uot;