In nine years as Washington-Marion head coach, Albert Hartwell has lost only six district games and won at least a share of the district title every season.

That streak is in jeopardy tonight when the Charging Indians play Lake Charles College Prep at the LC-B gymnasium at 7:15 p.m. The teams are tied atop the District 4-3A standings with one loss each. W-M won the first game between the two 72-53 on Jan. 12, but allowed the Blazers a chance to win the title outright with a home loss to Westlake last week. That loss snapped a 39-game district win streak for the Charging Indians. The streak started with the final game of the 2014-15 regular season, which was followed with three straight undefeated district titles.

LCC Prep (20-7, 7-1) has stayed alive by winning all five of its games since losing to W-M. Those wins have come by an average of 18.6 points per game.

W-M (15-10, 8-1) has won nine out of 11 overall after starting the season 6-8. Hartwell said defense and unselfishness has fueled the surge.

“We started playing together and started playing defense,” he said. “We just had to settle down and learn how to play together. We got better on defense and then really got going.”

Senior center Jaylon Ned sets the tone for the Charging Indians.

“He plays hard, gives us his all every night,” Hartwell said. “He blocks shots for us and helps a lot when he stays inside.”

Hartwell said dictating the tempo will be the key against Prep, which played W-M tough twice last year, losing in overtime at home and by four on the road.

“We can’t let them get out and running, we have to slow them down,” Hartwell said. “They do a good job in the transition game, they have a lot of guys that can get out and run.”

The Blazers are led by win Raymond Guillory and forward Caleb Robinson. In the first W-M game, Robinson scored 24 points and Guillory added 14. Ned had 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead W-M while Keyshawn Mark added 11 points.