FERRIDAY, La. – What the 2000-2001 Ferriday High Trojans basketball team was able to accomplish was perhaps one of the biggest surprises in Miss-Lou high school basketball this past season.

For starters, the Trojans were picked to finish third behind powerhouse McCall and Vidalia in District 3-2A, but surprised a lot of people in finishing in second place.

Then Ferriday won three playoff games in the Class 2A playoffs and made it to the Top 28 State Tournament for the first time since 1989, only to lose to Many 68-55 Wednesday night in Lafayette in the Class 2A semifinals.

Led by six seniors – Derrick Williams, D’Juan Banks, Marques Webber, leading scorer Jason Scott, Bobby Sheppard and Lawrence Washington – along with junior Jackie Thomas and sophomore LaKendrick Nix, Ferriday had a 24-12 record this past season.

&uot;A lot of people didn’t think we would get this far,&uot; said Ferriday head coach James Davis. &uot;We surprised a lot of people. We came together as a team and we started rolling.

&uot;We worked hard in all parts of the game,&uot; he said. &uot;The kids are just great. They were very phenomenal.&uot;

Davis said he had a good ball club, but the players had to be focused.

&uot;The games against the real good teams, we came out real hard,&uot; he said. &uot;The teams we were supposed to beat, we came out flat.&uot;

As to who made the All-District team, he said, &uot;Probably Jason and Derrick.&uot;

However, with the loss of the six seniors to graduation, a return to the Top 28 Tournament will be even tougher for Ferriday next year.

&uot;No doubt it (the 2001-02 season) will be a rebuilding year,&uot; Davis said. &uot;If the young players can work hard, we can make another run in the playoffs.&uot;

Among those returning next year are Nix, Jackie Thomas, Calvin Thomas, Shunzeric Payne, Christopher Watson and Ladrian Davis.

&uot;We’re going to be in the toughest district next year with Rayville joining us,&uot; he said.

With Rayville moving to District 3-2A next year, Block will be going to another district.

&uot;We’re not going to take anyone for granted,&uot; Davis said.