After the 2022 season ended for Zwolle in Burton Coliseum, the Hawks felt defeated and disappointed. A State Runner- up finish for most schools would have been a huge milestone; however, in ZWOLLE, you are measured by one thing…. CHAMPIONSHIPS. (The former players are sure to remind you of that if you are not playing up to the lofty expectations). The Zwolle seniors, along with the rest of the team, used the Runner-up finish as motivation all season long, capping off a 34-2 campaign with a 4025 victory in the LHSAA Division V State Championship game over rival Anacoco Friday night in a very GREEN Burton Coliseum.
The hawks’ smothering defense held Anacoco to 25 total points on 25% shooting and 0-19 from the 3-point line. When asked about his team’s performance, Coach Bradley McLaren, in his 19th year of coaching (all at Zwolle), stated that, “Our guys were dialed in defensively tonight. They played with tremendous heart and determination. As a coach, I cannot ask them for much more than that. It was a total team effort and our guys each did their job. I am proud of my guys and coaches for creating and following through with our game plan.”
And dialed in they were… Zwolle, who does not play anyone over 6’1”, used pressure defense throughout the night to badger the much bigger Indians into rushed shots and controlled the boards to the tune of a 38-22 rebound advantage. Senior Guards Richard Mullen and CJ Lilly talked about how important it was for the Hawks to defend and play “team basketball.”.
Leading the Hawks with a pair of double-doubles were All-State Senior Guard Kenneth Montgomery (14 points and 11 rebounds) and Sophomore Forward Preston Sanders (13 points 10 Rebounds). McLaren on Kenneth Montgomery “Kenneth can score the ball and he came through for us this year when we needed him to, especially in the semis. He will remember that shot to send us to overtime for the rest of his life.” Coach McLaren also had high praise for Senior forward Keion Calhoun and Junior wing Alec Williams. “Keion battled in the post like we knew he was capable of and Alec is a vital player to us as well.”
To get to the Championship game, Zwolle defeated Gibsland-Coleman in the semi-finals in double overtime. Senior guard Kenneth Montgomery drove the length of the court and hit a “big time” jump shot to send the game to the first overtime as time expired. Montgomery would foul out in overtime, but not before he scored 28 points. Draven Meshell and Howard Etheridge would take over down the stretch along with a Preston Sanders monstrous dunk in the second overtime to punch the Hawks ticket into the finals.
And Championships… Zwolle has them…16 total (Tied for most in the state) in boys basketball alone. The Hawks don’t call 649 Championship Drive home for nothing… Zwolle as a Program ● 26 Top 28/State Tournament Appearances ● 7 Titles in a row (1988-1994) ● 16 State Championships ● 7 State Runner-ups
Coach McLaren - 19 years - 2005-2023
● 7 State Championships - 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2023 ● 5 Runner-ups 2008, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022 As for the Hawks, the motto all year long “ZWOLLE vs. Everybody” proved motivation enough to add one more trophy to the trophy case and add to the rich tradition of Zwolle Basketball.