By Kyle Roberts
Following a stellar junior season campaign for the Ruston Lady Bearcats, Jaliyah McWain was named the Most Valuable Player of District 2-5A in girls’ basketball after averaging 20 points and 8 rebounds per game and helping keep Ruston competitive in a season that saw depleted lineups due to injuries.
“I believe Jaliyah has earned the privilege to be the MVP of our district,” Each game she showed up and proved to the opposing teams and coaches that she was going to be a factor. It’s a big deal to be selected amongst your competitors as one of the best.”
McWain is joined by senior Marcy Parker (3 points, 4 rebounds per game), sophomore Kiersynce McNeal (8 points, 4 rebounds per game), and freshman Ella Kate Jones (4 points, 4 rebounds per game), who all were named honorable mention.
“I am very proud of what our team accomplished over the course of the season and district,” Graf said. “We took hit after hit from the injury bug but continued to persevere and play hard. It speaks so much to the character of my players. I’m glad for everyone that was recognized on the list but this year took every single player in our program for us to have success.”
MVP
#2 Jaliyah McWain RHS 20 ppg Reb. 8
1st Team All-District
#11 Kaysha Hurd ASH 14 ppg Reb. 7
#1 Thamerin Balthazar ASH 11 ppg Reb 4
#24 Morgan Elie PHS 14 ppg Reb. 11
#3 Jade Spikes OPHS 10 ppg Reb. 5
2nd Team All-District
#5 Carlasia Moore WM
#20 Hudson Lee Fisher WO
#54 Brea Woods ASH
#20 Cheyenne Jones PHS
#1 Mikera Abrams OPHS
#11 Paeshonce Johnson WM
Honorable Mention All-District
#21 Lainey Bergeron -ASH
#12 Sarah Dupuy – ASH
#10 Braciera Clark – ASH
#32 Netta Varyvaren – ASH
#12 Kiah Simpson – OPHS
#23 McKenna Cooley – OPHS
#25 Malaysia Warfield – OPHS
#23 McKinzie Porter – PHS
#35 Aireona Beasley – PHS
#25 Marcy Parker – RHS
#20 Kiersynce McNeal – RHS
#11 Ella Kate Jones – RHS
#12 Briley Brothers – WM
#20 Madison King – WM
#12 Annie Gilly – WO
#3 Adison Vallery – WO
#41 Victoria McCarty – WO
Coach of the Year: Jimmy Wenslow of ASH
