By Kyle Roberts
A separate storyline in Ruston’s Friday night matchup with Frankston High was the decades-long friendship between the two head coaches, Ryan Bond and Scotty Albritton.
Of course, the friendship had to weather the storm of two highly competitive ballers who openly admit their disdain for each other during their playing days for their respective high schools.
“Sometimes we’d play each other four times in a season,” Albritton said. “Maybe a home-and-home, or we’d meet up in a tournament. We were big rivals in high school. We really did not like each other.”
Standing next to Albritton, Bond couldn’t help but laugh.
“We did not get along very well,” Bond said. “That’s a kind word for it.”
Both high school graduates in 1992 (Albritton from Cedar Creek High School here in Ruston and Bond from Weston High School in Jackson Parish), the pair would end up at Louisiana Tech University, uniting as Dunkin’ Dogs once Albritton made the team their sophomore season.
From there, a lifetime friendship would be forged.
“We ended up becoming great friends, we’d room together on road trips and we we became such good friends that we ended up being roommates in a house on campus,” Albritton said. “And, you know, the friendship there is just just increase.”
“We went from bitter rivals to him being in my wedding and coming overseas to watch me play (after college),” Bond said. “Now, I’d do anything for him and his family.”
And now, the pair have a 1-1 record against each other. The two previously faced off nearly a decade ago at a tournament hosted by Evangel when Albritton was the head coach at Lindale High School in Texas while Bond was at Weston High. The larger-enrollment Lindale would get the victory.
“He said he remembered the butt-whoopin’ we gave him that night, but when I went back and looked at the score, it was only a 19-point win for us,” Albritton said before laughing. “So I told him before the game tonight that you can’t beat us by more than 19 points.”
And the final score Friday night? 58-39– a 19-point win, this time for Bond’s Ruston Bearcat team.
And, perhaps, on the schedule next season could see a return trip and the rubber match for two great friends.
“We’re going to try to get out there next year,” Bond said. “But tonight, I really appreciate him coming over here.”
