Staff Writer
Deep postseason runs, combined with consistent production all season long, have earned seven parish prep basketball standouts All-State recognition from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Simsboro’s state champion Tigers had three mainstays on the Class B boys All-State team announced Saturday, and one Lady Tiger in the spotlight. The Division IV girls state semifinalists from Cedar Creek were represented by a pair of players on the Class A girls All-State team released Sunday, with another local standout from Lincoln Prep’s state quarterfinalists in the All-State spotlight.
The Boro (25-2) placed senior Jamarian Cato on the Class B first team, sophomore Childaydrien Newton on the second team and junior Nick Maryland on the honorable mention list.
Cato was the Tigers’ top scorer with a 19.5 average while Newton’s all-around contributions included a 12.8 scoring average. Maryland hit the winning 3-pointer in the state championship game to topple top-seeded Anacoco.
The Lady Tigers’ Alexia Hester netted honorable mention All-State recognition on the girls squad.
Cedar Creek’s sharpshooting junior point guard Sarah Adams was a first-team girls Class A All-State selection, with teammate Riley Spradlin, a senior forward, receiving honorable mention status.
Adams, who averaged 21 points per game, was flanked by four seniors on the All-State first team list, including state Outstanding Player Emery Wirtz of district rival and state champion Ouachita Christian, and Marin Barras, whose dominant play inside for Highland Baptist was key to its 45-39 semifinal victory over the Lady Cougars (20-4).
The Lady Panthers were represented on the same All-State squad by Tiyan Heard, also an honorable mention choice. Lincoln Prep, seeded 12th, knocked off its district rival Homer in the regional round and almost upset North Central in the Class A quarterfinals, falling four points short (51-47) of Marsh Madness.
In another sport, the Louisiana High School Powerlifting Association issued its all-classifications All-State teams on Thursday and state Division V champion Cedar Creek was represented by honorable mention selection Caden Lillo. He had a combined lift total of 1,480 pounds at the state meet in Monroe, setting a 242-pound class record in the bench press while he won an individual state crown.
BASEBALL: Ruston couldn’t solve West Monroe pitcher Drew Blaylock on Friday afternoon and fell 4-1 at WMHS. The Bearcats were one hit and struck out seven times. J.R. Tollet had the only safety for RHS (12-8), which plays this evening at D’Arbonne Woods and then resumes district action with a two-game series against West Ouachita Friday and Saturday.
Stretching its winning streak to 14, Choudrant notched a pair of blowout wins Friday and Saturday.
The Aggies dumped visiting Family Community Christian 16-3 on Friday, then thrashed Union Parish 11-1 in Farmerville on Saturday.
In the FCC game, Choudrant’s 12-hit attack included three from winning pitcher Brandon Carter and a four RBI day by Landon Hennen.
Against Union Parish, Braden Jones twirled a one-hitter through six innings, striking out 12. The Aggies (17-3) broke open a close game with four runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Jones and Carter each cracked three of Choudrant’s 10 hits, with Carter accounting for three RBI, and Eli Watson homered for the winners.
SOFTBALL: Ruston rolled over Choudrant 14-4 on Friday, but the Lady Aggies rallied Saturday with a pair of victories over Calvin (10-5) and Loyola (15-4).
The Lady Bearcats and Lady Aggies combined to suffer 13 errors but Ruston cashed in Choudrant’s mistakes more effectively and limited CHS to three hits, half of the winners’ total. Earlier Friday, Plainview had edged Choudrant 8-7 on a two-run homer in the sixth inning.
Choudrant’s Tori Martin had a team-best three hits, including a double, against Calvin. Zoey Smith piled up five RBI on three hits to fuel the Lady Aggies’ rout over Loyola.
Simsboro dropped a couple of contests Saturday: 10-9 to Saline, despite four hits from Jacoya Lewis, including two triples and a double; and 11-4 to Union Parish despite pitcher Carlei Wheeler striking out 14 batters.