Grambling State University Athletics has announced a three-year agreement naming Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport as the Official Sports Medicine Partner for the GSU athletic programs.
“The Grambling State University Department of Athletics is thrilled to engage in a multi-year partnership with Ochsner LSU Health,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Trayvean Scott. “This partnership allows the department to continue to provide first class medical care to our student-athletes throughout their time at GSU.”
The agreement gives the Tigers access to doctors and support staff needed for injury support and health-related events.
“We at Ochsner LSU Health System are very pleased to forge a new exciting relationship with Grambling State University for state of the art sports medicine care. This new partnership will not only provide comprehensive clinical care to Grambling athletes, but will also foster innovative research through the expanded access to facilities and expertise at both institutions,” said Shane Barton MD, MPH, Medical Director of Orthopedic Surgery at the Ochsner LSU Health – Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute. “The long history of athletic excellence and community service at GSU is a shining example of what it means to support our communities. We at Ochsner LSU Health – Sports Medicine share this passion for excellence and community service, and this partnership marks an exciting milestone for supporting our region in even more innovative ways!”
As part of the agreement, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport will provide a doctor for the student-athletes to see weekly on campus to evaluate injuries and create plans of action. This will allow student-athletes quick access to the care they require, which results in faster recovery times and more time in competition. Student-athletes will also have easier access to appointments in the Ochsner LSU Health system which helps strengthen the relationship and communication with the athletic training staff at Grambling State.
Amanda Gonzalez and the Lady Techsters will host North Texas in a three-game series this weekend at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech will play a three-game series in Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on the top-10 ranked Razorbacks starting tonight and running through Sunday.
The contests can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 97.7 FM and via the LA Tech Athletics app while fans can also watch it on SECN+.
LA Tech (8-4) is coming off a weekend sweep over Big 10 opponent Northwestern. The Bulldogs averaged 11.7 runs per game, banging out 13 extra-base hits, including six home runs. The team ranks third in C-USA and 57th in the country in total home runs with 17. Nine different Bulldogs have hit a homer this season, led by Philip Matulia who has six jacks.
The Bulldogs have been the comeback Bulldogs so far this season. The team has trailed at some point in 10 of their 12 games this season. Four of LA Tech’s eight wins have come after trailing by at least four runs. In Sunday’s game against the Wildcats, the ‘Dogs were trailing 9-3 in the second inning before scoring 13 unanswered runs to win it, 16-9.
Dalton Davis batted .385 in the three-game series with Northwestern, including a walk-off RBI single to win the Saturday game. He has reached base in all 12 games and recorded at least one hit in 11 of those games.
C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year Jonathan Fincher has gone 7.0 innings in each of the last two Friday starts, allowing just three total runs while striking out 12.
Arkansas (10-2) is rank in the top 10 in every major baseball poll, including a No. 3 national ranking by Perfect Game. They have won five straight, including a 7-5 come-from-behind victory over Army this past Tuesday in a midweek game when they got a three-run go-ahead homer in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Black Knights.
The Razorbacks are led offensively by Jace Bohrofen and Jared Wegner who each are batting over .400. Wegner provides the power, having tallied six home runs and 22 RBIs.
Arkansas will go with a weekend rotation of Hagen Smith (Friday), Will McEntire (Saturday), and Hunter Hollan (Sunday). All three have claimed two victories on the mound this season.
Arkansas leads the all-time series over LA Tech, 27-7 (on record). However, the series has been tight over the last few years as the Razorbacks only hold a slim 5-4 advantage since 2016.
This will be the third time since 2019 that LA Tech and Arkansas will face off in a three-game weekend series. The two last met in a weekend series in Ruston in 2021. The Razorbacks took the first two games, but the Bulldogs claimed a 2-0 shutout for their first ever victory over a No. 1 ranked team in program history.
The Louisiana Tech Softball team opens its Conference USA slate with a three-game series against preseason conference favorite North Texas this weekend at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
The series starts tonight at 6 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. Saturday and a 1 p.m. Sunday.
Louisiana Tech is 14-6 on the season and coming off a 3-1 extra-innings loss to ULM on March 7. Allie Floyd pitched all nine innings in the contest, while Brooke Diaz hit a solo home run, accounting for the Techsters’ one run in the game.
The Lady Techsters’ 14-6 start is the best since 2019 when they had a 15-5 mark through their first 20 games played.
Tech has won its last 11 regular season Conference USA games, with its last loss coming at North Texas on April 14, 2022, in game one of a three-game series that the Techsters took 2-1.
Pitching has played a vital role this season for the Lady Techsters, as they hold a team ERA of 1.98. Mary Martinez leads the Techsters in the circle with a 4-1 record and 1.29 ERA in 21.2 innings pitched. Allie Floyd leads Tech in innings thrown with 44.0 while owning a 1.91 ERA and a team-best .95 WHIP (walk hits per inning).
The Lady Techsters’ 0.65 double plays per game is the third-best mark among all NCAA Division I programs.
Right fielder Kylie Neel leads LA Tech with a .350 batting average, including 21 hits, while recording five doubles, 20 RBI, 14 runs scored, and seven walks. Her 20 RBI ranks third among all Conference USA players.
Left fielder Katelin Cooper leads the Lady Techsters with three round-trippers this season. She has already surpassed her home run total from 2023. Cooper has also posted an impressive .667 on-base percentage when leading off innings at the plate.
The series with North Texas will mark the second three-game series of the season for LA Tech. The Lady Techsters swept their first three-game series against SEMO on Feb. 11-12 to open the season.
The Mean Green (12-8) were ranked No. 24 in the preseason Top-25 poll and are 12-8 this season after playing a solid non-conference slate that featured ranked opponents in Kentucky (No. 18), Texas (No. 14) and Arkansas (No. 8).
Junior Kailey Gamble is one of the top sluggers in the nation, ranking second nationally with 10 home runs and leading the Mean Green with a .377 batting average.
Ashley Peters is the ace of the North Texas staff with a 4-4 record, 1.25 ERA and a .84 WHIP in 39.1 innings pitched.
North Texas is led by Rodney Delong, who is 141-60 in his five seasons at the helm.
Louisiana Tech and North Texas have met 34 times, with the series deadlocked at 17 games apiece. The teams went 2-2 in its meetings last year. LA Tech took the regular season series two games to one. North Texas won the previous match-up 11-1 in five innings on May 13, 2022, during the C-USA tournament in Denton, Texas
James P. Turner November 17, 1920 – March 8, 2023 Visitation: Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Funeral Service: Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 11:00 AM, Wesley Chapel, 4330 Highway 818, Ruston Cemetery Committal: Tuesday, March 14, 2023, Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Wesley Chapel Road, Ruston
Steven Patterson Sunday 06/28/1959 — Wednesday 03/01/2023 Celebration of Life: Friday 03/10/2023 11:00am, Zion Traveler Baptist Church, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston Interment: Friday 03/10/2023, Pleasant Grove Cemetery, 446 Bowden Road, Ruston (Clay)
Brooke Davis October 8, 1972 – March 4, 2023 Funeral Service: Saturday, March 11, 2023, 11:00 AM, Residence, 118 Tonways Rd, Bernice
Randie Rae Pierce Sunday 09/21/1947 — Saturday 02/25/2023 Family Gathering: Friday 03/10/2023 2:00pm to 3:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Friday 03/10/2023 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/11/2023 1:00pm at: St. Peter Baptist Church, 899 St. Peter Road, Ruston Interment: Saturday 03/11/2023 Following Service, St. Peter Church Cemetery, St. Peter Road, Ruston
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office has confirmed two shootings occurred Tuesday afternoon just west of Ruston, leaving one woman dead and a man injured.
Authorities have identified Donovan Hart, 18, as a suspect in the shootings. Detectives are requesting anyone with information regarding Hart’s whereabouts to contact Crimestoppers at 318-255-1111, text a tip to “TIP515 plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) or submit a tip online at www.rustonlincolncrimestoppers.com.
Hart should be considered armed and dangerous.
According to Matt Henderson of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, the two shootings are being handled as separate incidents at this time. One shooting occurred on Green Lane off U.S. Highway 80 just west of the Ruston city limits. A woman was killed in that incident. The victim’s name was identified a LaTonia Moore, 38.
The second shooting took place at the Peachland Mobile Home Park off U.S. 80. In that incident, a man was shot and seriously injured. He has reportedly undergone surgery. His name has not been released.
LPSO detectives responded to the two scenes and began gathering evidence and searching for witnesses.
Green Lane and the Peachland Park are adjacent to the one another less than a mile west of the Ruston city limits.
A rumor circulated Tuesday afternoon shortly after the incidents of an active shooter and a lockdown at Northern Louisiana Medical Center. The LPSO and the City of Ruston quickly confirmed that was not true. When the shooting victim was taken to the hospital, a large crowd followed. The hospital locked the emergency room doors to prevent the large crowd from loitering within the building. The report of an active shooter and lockdown were erroneous.
No arrests have been made as of Wednesday afternoon, Henderson said, but the sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate both cases.
LPSO is requesting information regarding these shootings and asks anyone with information to notify Ruston-Lincoln Crimestoppers. Information can be given in several ways: call (318) 255-1111, text a tip to “TIP515 plus your message” to CRIMES (274637), or submit a tip online at http://www.rustonlincolncrimestoppers.com. Callers do not have to give their names.
The Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control will meet tonight at 5 p.m. for a special-called meeting to discuss and take action on Louisiana House Bill 25 and Senate Bill 7.
The general public is allowed at this meeting and allowed to make comments up to three minutes in time.
The two bills being discussed tonight include oversight on the library and determining when minors can check out certain materials deemed sexually explicit.
For House Bill 25, while the current law states that the Lincoln Parish Police Jury appoints library board members for five-year terms, this new bill proposes that board members would serve at the pleasure of the police jury. Additionally, it allows the police jury to regulate and oversee the library board, including its officers, employees and libraries. Lastly, House Bill 25 proposes that the library board could not act inconsistent with whatever ordinances the police jury choose to establish.
Senate Bill 7 is designed to help parents determine what materials their children view. In this particular bill, “minors” is a broad term and includes ages 1 to 17. Additionally, “sexually explicit” is not defined either.
Any Lincoln Parish citizen wishing to speak on this subject can attend this public meeting, which will take place in the library’s George Byrnside Conference Room.
That’s how long it’s been since the Ruston Bearcats have made an appearance in “Marsh Madness” — the Louisiana high school basketball equivalent of the “Final Four.”
Now, the 2022-23 Bearcat team, ranked No. 2 overall, has the chance to write its own history starting tonight against the No. 3 Ponchatoula Green Wave with a win-or-go-home game setup in the semifinals.
And heading into tonight’s ballgame, Ruston head coach Ryan Bond had nothing but positive things to say about his squad and their readiness for the weekend.
“Without a doubt, they believe,” Bond said. “I believe in them. The other coaches believe in them. And they want it. Not only for themselves, but for each other. They’re very close; if a kid has a bad play, they’re picking each other up. That’s what’s great to see.”
After two consecutive home court blowups in the second round and the quarter finals, Ruston will face a Ponchatoula team that has beaten West Monroe (83-46) and Sulphur (62-48) to advance to the semifinals. The Green Wave won District 6-5A with an unblemished record.
“It starts with their inside kid; he’s around 6’8″ or 6’9″,” Bond said of Ponchatoula junior forward Allen Graves. “He can shoot the ball a little bit from the perimeter. He’s an excellent free throw shooter, and he’s averaging around 20 points and 11 rebounds a game.
“They do play a lot of kids; they have a point guard who’s close to the type of athlete our (sophomore guard) Aiden Anding is. He can get downhill and get to the basket.”
While Ruston does not have the height advantage in the paint, Bond still see this is a good matchup for his Bearcats, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
“I think we matchup well in all areas,” Bond said. “You know, (junior forward) Zhy Scott may not be 6’9″, but he’s very physical. I talked to some coaches who played Ponchatoula this year and they asked me ‘Where are you going to double them from?’ And I told them that we don’t have to double because our guys can handle things one-on-one.”
Ruston and Ponchtoula will tipoff at 6:15 p.m. tonight at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, La.
The game can be heard on KPCH 99.3 FM and KRLQ 102.3.
Lincoln Prep boys hoops coach Antonio Hudson and his Panthers will take on Crescent City in Division IV Boys Select School semifinals action today in Lake Charles. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
It’s a great time to be a Panther.
Those words came from Lincoln Preparatory School Executive Director Gordan Ford Wednesday night on the eve of the second-seeded Panthers taking on third-seeded Crescent City in the semifinals of the Division IV Select School Boys state tournament.
Tip-off for Lincoln Prep’s first 2023 Marsh Madness contest is set for 1:15 p.m. today inside Burton Coliseum on the campus of McNeese State University in Lake Charles.
The Panthers reached Marsh Madness last season, falling to top-seeded and eventual state champion North Central 70-66 in the semifinals.
Lincoln Prep made it all the way to the Class 1A title game in 2020 before falling to North Central 81-65. The Panthers also reached the semifinals in 2017, falling to Tensas 70-60 in a semifinals showdown.
Before that, the last time a Grambling-based high school made it to the Class 1A Final Four was in 2011, when Grambling Laboratory School fell to Southern Lab 46-29 in the semifinals.
Grambling Lab also reached the semifinals in 2007, falling to Country Day 51-37. The Kittens also reached the semifinals in 2006 before being defeated in double overtime to Southern Lab by the score of 76-73.
Grambling Lab also lost to Southern Lab in the 2003 semifinals, 79-55. Former NBA and Louisiana Tech star earned honors as Louisiana’s Mr. Basketball that season, but didn’t earn a title, as the Kittens fell in junior high school season of 2002, losing to White Castle 54-45.
Panthers coach Antonio Hudson played at Grambling Lab in the late 1990s before graduating in 2001 and moving on to star for LSU but never reached a prep Final Four until becoming head coach at Lincoln Prep.
The last time a Grambling-based high school team claimed a state championship came in 1992, when then-junior and future Tulane and NBA standout Jerald Honeycutt guided the Kittens to a 52-49 victory over White Castle.
Grambling Lab won seven state titles over the years going back to taking the 1974 title with a 64-57 win over Brusly.
The Lab also took took state in 1978 (96-78 over Boothville-Venice), 1985 (56-52 over University Lab), 1986 (59-49 over University Lab), 1989 (60-42 over North Vermilion) and 1990 (70-67 over Vermilion Catholic in OT).
Grambling Lab also reached Class 1A title games in 2000, 1988 and 1977 without earning a championship.
It all amounts to a rich hoops history and tradition that Lincoln Prep, which rose like a phoenix out of the proverbial ashes of Grambling Lab following a decades long court battle concerning the issue of segregation, looks to build on today.
Ford graduated from Grambling Lab, playing football and serving as official basketball scorer – students were allowed to do so in those days – including during the Kittens’ 1985 state championship season.
“It’s important to tie the history together,” Ford said. “There’s so many people that are just disaffected. What we dealt with for years with the Justice Department, and then COVID, things got sort of separated. This is a great opportunity to unify our community again.”
Even better, it helps unify a school that next week will start moving students into its new location at the first Lincoln Prep school building, which is located on land that used to be the Louisiana Tech University Golf Course on Old Grambling Road.
“So it’s a great time to be a Kitten or a Panther – it’s all being tied back together,” Ford said. “We’ll move first through fourth grade in next week, the middle school the week after that and the high school the week after the middle school moves in.”
“For some people it’s starting a new tradition. But for those of us who wore the old green and gold, it’s a continuation of acting out what we learned. We’re living what we were taught by those who instilled in us the legacy we were part of when we were kids – Antonio in the late ’90s and 2000s and we’re just excited to be here to restart – rekindle – that legacy.”
While Hudson is all about the legacy he grew up with, his sole (and “soul” in all honesty because of his parts in the tradition) focus right now is on this season and today’s game against Crescent City as his 23-4 Panthers fight to earn their second title game berth over the past three years.
“The past, that was then and it was great being a part of, but this is now – it’s about these kids, the players on this team and this new legacy they’ve worked and are still working so hard to create,” Hudson said. “This team has what it takes. We just have to stay focused on the goal at hand, and that’s winning the next two games and earning a state championship.
“These guys have been there before. They’ve played in Marsh Madness. Our seniors have had great careers here. But there’s still one more goal to be reached. One last hurrah for them to go out on. And something for our younger players to build on – a new legacy of winning state championships. That’s our only focus right now.”
A Ruston woman was arrested Sunday afternoon on drug charges after an officer stopped her car on West Barnett Springs Avenue near Tech Drive.
When the officer approached the driver, the odor of marijuana was detected coming from the vehicle. A purse containing suspected crack cocaine and marijuana and the driver’s identification was found in the car.
Felicia Freasier, 37, was arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. Two other occupants of the car were released without charges.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Josh McDaniel (right) with his son, Davis, are teaming up to capture images around Lincoln Parish and the surrounding areas.
By Josh McDaniel
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I’ve come to learn that a picture is so much more than words. It’s a smile, a laugh, a good cry, the friend you don’t see nearly often enough, you and your Maw-Maw cooking in the kitchen together, and the first time you got to hold your babies in your arms praying you didn’t drop them on the hospital floor because your wife went to a whole lot of trouble to get them into this world.
When I was a given a camera for the first time in 2016, I never dreamed how photography would become an integral part of my life, and I never could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams the places it would take me. From Miami to Atlanta to Manhattan to Memphis to Tuscaloosa to New Orleans to Austin to Las Cruces, my camera has been my ticket and travel partner.
Three years ago when COVID kept us at home, I obviously couldn’t go anywhere, and I had nothing and no one to photograph except my five year old son Davis. I’d bring my camera out for our epic front yard soccer matches and grab some shots while the home team’s captain was warming up. “Hey, Dad! See if you can get this jump!” became a common phrase as I would shoot in rapid succession as Davis performed his best acrobatic routines on his trampoline.
After a few weeks, my subject became more and more interested in taking his own photos, and the spontaneous sessions turned into deliberate photo walks around our back yard: me armed with my camera and him armed with an old hand-me-down camera I passed on to him earlier that spring. We took pictures of lizards, clouds, flowers, trees, and Davis would beam with pride every time he showed me his photos. Some were quite the artistic choice, but others were really good! I could tell he had a great eye, and he had potential to take some amazing photos.
Over the course of the next two years, I took every opportunity I could to allow him to explore and shoot whatever and whenever he wanted to. We staged photoshoots with action figures. We traveled together to portrait sessions, and I gave him my camera anytime he asked while we were waiting on our client to change outfits. It was an amazing experience to watch my son fall in love with photography and to see how much his confidence began to grow as he became more and more comfortable behind the camera. “Hey, Dad. Look at this shot!” “Hey, Dad! Can I take a picture of that?” “Hey, Dad. What if I climbed in that tree and took a picture?” The questions and the curiosity never stopped, and I loved every minute of it.
This past fall, I had the opportunity to be on the sidelines for Ruston High’s magical football season that culminated in the Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans. Affectionally known as “the tribal chief,” a moniker taken from his favorite WWE superstar Roman Reigns, Davis joined me at every game. At Homecoming, he was my second shooter, and he took some absolutely amazing photos that any sports photographer, including myself, would have been proud to have captured. We were there for the ending of the streak with West Monroe.
We traveled together down to Denham Springs, and we celebrated on the turf together when the Bearcats punched their ticket to NOLA with a win over Zachary. This past January, I became the photographer for Bayou Independent Wrestling, and the tribal chief and I have traveled to shows in Fountain Hill, Arkansas, Vicksburg, and Brookhaven, Mississippi, so far this year. If you’ve been to a Ruston High Basketball game this season, odds are you’ve seen the fuzzy headed kid in the stands or on the sideline next to me.
I do my best to soak it all in and enjoy the time we get to spend together. I know one day, I’ll ask Davis if he wants to go to a game with me, and he’ll have something better to do, or he’ll be too cool to be seen in public with me. It never gets old seeing my name in the byline of a photo caption, but getting to do something I love with the boy I love the most is truly the best part of sports photography for me.
On the road trip down to Denham Springs, somewhere after Vidalia and in between bites of his Dodge’s chicken strips, Davis asked, “Dad, is it OK if I like the parts where we ride together, talk, and listen to music on the way there and the way back more than I like the games we go to?”
After I caught my breath, composed myself, and wiped my misty eyes, I said, “Of course it is.” He smiled, took another bite of chicken, and stared out the window at the passing scenery.
I stared for a moment at the not-so-little boy with curly brown hair and fiery green eyes in my rearview mirror, and thought to myself, “Those parts are my favorite, too.”
Ruston Police arrested a 52-year-old man Saturday after responding to a domestic disturbance at a Kenwood Drive residence.
The victim told officers she was in the living room of the residence when Terrence Jackson grabbed a knife from the kitchen and threatened her with it. She said Jackson walked in her direction while holding the knife and she locked herself in the bedroom to get away from him.
A witness said Jackson was drunk and angry over the removal of the television from his bedroom. The witness said she attempted to remove Jackson from the residence and when she could not, she called police.
Officers found Jackson in the kitchen of the residence struggling to maintain his balance and showing other indications of intoxication. A kitchen knife was found on the floor in Jackson’s room. He was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for aggravated assault.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Keaston Willis scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs to the overtime win. (Photo by Kelsey Chanler)
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Winners of seven of their last eight games, the No. 5 seeded Lady Techsters (19-11) open the 2023 Conference USA Championships today at 11:30 a.m. when they face the No. 4 seeded UTEP Miners inside the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco.
The contest can be heard on 97.7 FM and the LA Tech Athletics app with Kyle Roberts providing a call of the action while it can be seen on ESPN+.
UTEP won both meetings during the regular season.
Tech’s 19 regular season wins matched last year’s total and are the third time Coach Stoehr has reached the 19-win mark. The 12 conference wins also match the most for LA Tech since joining C-USA.
Keiunna Walker and Anna Larr Roberson were named to the 2022-23 All-Conference Teams on Tuesday. Walker picked up the first-team and all-defensive honors, while Roberson earned a second-team mention.
Walker currently ranks No. 8 on the all-time scoring list with 1,940 points. Roberson sits at No. 34 on the all-time list with 1,224 points.
UTEP got off to a 5-0 start to the non-conference portion of their schedule and a 5-1 start to C-USA play, which included the two wins over LA Tech. They then split four of the next eight before winning four of five but dropped the last two games of the regular season to WKU and Middle Tennessee.
UTEP’s offense features a balanced attack with three players in double figures led by North Texas transfer Jazion Jackson adds 12.2 PPG, followed by Oklahoma State transfer N’Yah Boyd (12.7 PPG) and Elina Arike (11.5 PPG).
Jackson earned First-Team All-Conference honors, while Arike was named Defensive Player of the Year and picked up a Second-Team mention.
Baker was also named Co-Coach of the Year for C-USA alongside Rick Insell.
Today’s game will mark the 27th overall meeting between LA Tech and UTEP with the Lady Techsters leading 16-10. UTEP took the C-USA opener this season in Ruston, 62-54 and then defeated the Lady Techsters 72-66 in El Paso.
The series began in 2001-02 with Tech winning in Ruston 90-53, which started a LA Tech nine-game win streak.
This is the third conference tournament matchup, with UTEP winning 81-72 in the 2014 quarterfinals. Tech won 74-47 in the semifinals of the 2004 WAC Tournament.
Bulldogs 81, FIU 76 (Overtime)
After seeing a 20-point second half lead evaporate, the Bulldogs dug deep to pull out an 81-76 overtime win over FIU Wednesday night in the first round of the 2023 Conference USA Championships inside the Ford Center at The Star.
With the win, the Bulldogs advance to face No. 2 seed North Texas tonight at 8 p.m.
Tech built a 36-24 halftime lead and then pushed it out to 45-25 with just over 17 minutes to play in the game. However, the contest was far from over.
After committing just three turnovers in the first half, the Bulldogs struggled against the FIU full-court press over the final 15 minutes of regulation, committing 14 turnovers that led to 18 points by the Panthers.
Tech held a 69-65 lead after Dravon Mangum’s layup with 18 seconds remaining in regulation, but an FIU bucket closed the game to 69-67. On the ensuing inbounds play, Tech committed a turnover leading to two free throws with 6.5 seconds remaining, tying the game at 69-69.
The Bulldogs got one final shot in regulation but Isaiah Crawford’s running floater in the lane was off the mark, sending the game into overtime.
FIU scored first in OT, taking a 71-69 lead — it’s first lead in the game since the Panthers led 7-6 in the opening five minutes of the contest. However, two Crawford free throws followed by seven straight points by Quandre Bullock spurned a 9-0 run as Tech built a 78-71 advantage.
FIU would get no closer than the final margin as the Bulldogs held on for the win.
Keaston Willis led Tech with 23 points followed by Crawford with 22 points. Mangum added 14 points and Bullock 10 points. Willis and Mangum both recorded their first double doubles as Willis pulled down 10 boards and Mangum 11 boards.
This is the second of a series of letters regarding the impending vote to increase alcohol sales in the city of Ruston. To recap, in 2002 the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce successfully led a petition drive to give voters the option to vote on five measures regulating alcohol sales. Options #1 and #2 were already legal in Ruston: this is the sale of beer/low alcohol content beverages in bars and retail outlets. The Chamber wanted to add one additional option, #5, which would allow restaurants to sell wine and mixed drinks to their patrons (and hopefully attract a movie theater, which it did). The chamber and its PAC, LINCPAC, successfully led a strategic campaign to keep options #1 and #2 on the books (for if they failed it would be disastrous for the local tax base – a risk totally disregarded by the proponents of the current election), and gain the passage of option #5. The Chamber’s campaign also sought to prevent the passage of options #3 And #4 – the sale of liquor and wine at bars without a restaurant (#3), and the sale of wine and liquor by liquor stores, grocery stores and convenience stores (#4). We were obviously successful in keeping these off the books.
The Chamber board of Directors, composed entirely of civic-minded volunteers, was chaired at that time by local educator and entrepreneur Sam Dauzat – I was the Chamber’s paid Executive Director. The Chamber formed LINCPAC, the educational and fundraising organization vital to the success of the “Restaurant Referendum” and Sam and I set off on a search to find the right person to chair LINCPAC. After the search had drug on for a few weeks the two of us were at Maxwell‘s Restaurant attending Mrs. Virginia Marbury‘s birthday party. As we were going through the buffet line I looked up and across the room saw a local icon who had recently moved back to our community, Mickey McHale. I suggested to Sam that he was our man and we approached him right then and there. He did not hesitate. He saw the merit of our effort and agreed to take on the job, and the rest, as they say, is history.
But that’s enough past history for today – let’s return to more recent events and the issue that is upon us. In the November 2022 meeting of the Ruston city council alderman Bruce Sigmund introduced an ordinance that would limit the sale of liquor in the event options #3 and #4 were to be voted in. The proposed ordinance was twofold: in order to limit the impact of option #4 it proposed to restrict alcohol sales by liquor stores, grocery stores and convenience stores to outlets with a minimum of 30,000 interior heated square feet with alcohol sales not being more than 50% of the establishments business. The second limitation targets liquor bars as allowed by option #3. According to the November 9, 2022 edition of the Ruston Daily Leader this ordinance would confine liquor bars to an entertainment district bounded on the south by California Avenue, the north by Interstate 20, on the west by Tech Drive and on the east by Bonner and Vienna Streets. The ordinance also stuck a finger to the east of downtown Ruston, beyond Bonner, along East Mississippi to include the site of the city’s old diesel power plant adjacent to the Ruston Farmer’s Market. The ordinance states that liquor bars will be at least 1320 feet from each other within this district.
For the record I will always be opposed to option #3, the liquor bar option. I just think allowing wide open liquor bars in a college town is a bad idea regardless of location. Also, as a downtown property owner and businessman I do not appreciate the only bars allowed if option #3 passes could be right next door or right across the street from my business. I’m sure many other downtown property owners and occupants feel the same way. I am voting YES on option #1, YES on option #2, NO on option #3 and YES on option #5.
But what about option #4? Fast forward to the December 2022 meeting of Ruston’s governing body. I must confess that with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season I didn’t realize a substantial and material change had taken place in the proposed law introduced a month earlier by the city council to try to limit the impact of bars and liquor stores in Ruston until I began my research for this series of letters. The fact is that the city council made a significant pivot to the downside in their effort to protect us. The ordinance brought to the table for passage in December had diminished control significantly to only require fifteen thousand square feet of heated interior space for permitted liquor stores, and therein lies the rub fellow citizens. While state law governs the overall distribution of alcohol in a locality by popular vote, the local governing bodies have the right to impose limitations on where those laws can be effected. This means that in the future just 3 people (a majority on our current 5 member board of aldermen) could alsoELIMINATE ALL RESTRICTIONS on the sale of alcohol in our fair city making it wide open for bars, liquor stores and all the other problems that come with them when unrestricted.
Again, I commend our city leaders for trying to do the right thing, but with the realization that these restrictions can be undone with the vote of just 3 persons I must vote NO on option #4 as well and urge you to do the same.
To close, I want to say there are huge differencesbetween the 2002 effort led by the Chamber of Commerce that brought a veritable EXPLOSION of growth to our local tax base, without which we may very well not have such niceties as our Sports Complex and we definitely would not have seen a first class movie theater open here over 15 years ago. I will expound more on the differences in these two elections in my third and final letter. In the interim please remember that evil triumphs when good men do nothing.
Since the earliest humans roamed the Earth, theft has been a problem. I imagine one caveman being envious of another caveman’s club and taking it when the opportunity presented itself. Over the millennia, humans developed rules which eventually became enforceable laws to stave off thievery. In some cases, the penalty for theft was excessive in comparison to the value of what was stolen. In 2019, a man convicted of theft in Iran had four of the fingers on his right hand cut off.
In early November 1906, a boy whose name has been lost to history spied some “penny toys” dangling from the doorway of a shop in Weinfelden, Switzerland. Without much thought of the possible consequences, the boy seized two of the penny toys and simply walked away. The boy made no attempt to hide the stolen toys, nor did he rush away from the scene of the crime. He calmly strode away from the shop.
The shop’s clerk contacted a policeman and reported the crime. The clerk pointed in the direction the boy had walked. With the help of the public who, like the clerk, pointed in the direction the boy had walked, the policeman quickly made his way to the boy’s home. The boy’s parents were unaware of the boy’s new toys until the policeman arrived. The policeman questioned the boy who laughingly admitted to taking the penny toys. With a solid confession, the policeman arrested the boy.
When the theft case came before the Weinfelden magistrate, the policeman held the boy up so the magistrate could take a good look at him and so the boy could see the official, as well. When the magistrate asked the boy if he had taken the penny toys, the boy laughingly admitted to the crime just as he had done with the policeman. The boy tried as well as he could to defend his actions. He tried to explain to the magistrate that he did not have any toys like the other boys in his neighborhood. The magistrate was unaffected by the boys attempt to explain away his crime, and as sternly as if he were facing the most cold-blooded of murderers loudly proclaimed “three and a half months’ imprisonment.”
The boy’s parents, shocked by the prison sentence for a couple of penny toys, fell on their knees and pleaded with the magistrate to reconsider. As the boy had openly confessed to thievery, the boy’s parents had just one argument, that the boy did not know the difference between right and wrong. With hardly a glance in their direction, the magistrate sternly told the policeman, “Remove the prisoner.” The policeman seemed almost as shocked as the parents, but he had to abide by the magistrate’s order. The policeman led the boy to an equally astonished warden to begin his sentence.
Whether the boy’s imprisonment deterred him from a life of crime is unknown. It is possible that the boy did not remember the incident. You see, the boy who was sentenced to three and a half months imprisonment for the theft of two penny toys, had recently had a birthday. He had just turned three years old.
Source:
1. The Minneapolis Journal, November 18, 1906, p.1.
Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie announced the addition of 19 transfers to the Bulldogs’ 2023 football roster today.
“We’re excited to add 19 transfers to our football program as we prepare for spring practice beginning March 21,” head coach Sonny Cumbie said. “Adding them to our returning roster will make our football team stronger. We’re looking forward to a competitive spring and one of daily improvement.”
Of the 19 transfers, 12 were defensive, six were offensive, and the Bulldogs picked up one special teams addition.
Tech added depth at the linebacker position with Jeslord Boateng out of Akron, Kolbe Fields from Brevin Randle by way of Stephen F. Austin and Zach Zimos from Arkansas.
Boateng led the Zips in tackles by tallying 80 in 2021, including four and a half for loss and one sack. He totaled 27 tackles in 11 games during the 2022 season. Before Akron, Boateng played three seasons at Michigan State, appearing in 18 games and recording 18 tackles.
Fields played in 11 games for LSU last season, making four tackles while appearing both defensively and on special teams. Fields spent the 2021 season at South Carolina, where he appeared in four games. The New Orleans product prepped at Archbishop Rummel High School, where he was named District 9-5A Defensive MVP and first-team all-state in 2020.
Randle is familiar with defensive coordinator Scott Power, having played under him for three seasons at SFA. Randle, a native of Marshall, Texas, played in 37 games during his four years as a Lumberjack, totaling 184 career tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Zimos makes his way to Tech as a graduate transfer. The 6-4 233-pound linebacker appeared in 14 games in his four years as a Razorback. Zimos prepped at Fort Bend Travis High School in Richmond, Texas where he was a four-star prospect, according to Rivals recruiting service.
Joining Randle, is his Stephen F. Austin teammate Myles Heard. Heard accumulated 211 tackles, seven forced fumbles and three interceptions in his four seasons at Safety with the Lumberjacks. He led SFA in tackles in 2022 and 2021 with 69 and 80, respectively.
Headlining the offensive transfers is quarterback Hank Bachmeier who came to Tech by way of Boise State. Bachmeier started 25 games during his four seasons as a Bronco, completing 53 of his 870 passing attempts for 6,605 yards and 41 touchdowns while also rushing for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Bachmeier was a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List selection in 2022 and was named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List in 2023.
Wide receiver Decoldest Crawford is returning to the 318 after spending his freshman season at Nebraska, where he sat out due to injury. The Shreveport product had a standout career at Green Oaks High School. Crawford helped Green Oaks to three playoff appearances in his four seasons while totaling nearly 150 catches and more than 2,200 receiving yards. The electric playmaker was a consensus three-star prospect who ranked among the top 20 players in Louisiana and the top 80 receivers in the country by Rivals.
The Bulldogs gained a physical tight end by adding Cal Poly transfer Ryan Rivera. Rivera started nine games in 2021 on his way to receiving second-team All-Big Sky honors from the league’s coaches and Phil Steele. The Tracy, Calif., product appeared in 31 games for the Mustangs during his four years in San Louis Obispo, hauling in 12 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
Cumbie and staff also added offensive lineman Mykel Janise and running backs Craig “Sqwirl” Williams and Tyre Shelton.
Janise transfers to Tech from Wyoming, where he redshirted his freshman season. The Beaumont, Texas product was a three-star recruit and held an offer from LA Tech out of high school.
Williams played in 11 games and made seven starts at running back at Baylor last season, finishing the year with 101 carries for 557 yards and four touchdowns. The Lone Star State native rushed 25 times for 192 yards and two TDs, including breaking a final-minute first-down rush and falling inside the 10-yard line to allow Baylor to run out the clock with the victory formation in a 38-35 win over Oklahoma. Williams has totaled 804 yards rushing and seven touchdowns during his collegiate career. Williams has blazing speed, having previously clocked in at 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Shelton comes to Ruston from Miami (Ohio) where he was teammates with current Bulldog Cecil Singleton Jr. from 2019-21. Shelton saw action in 11 games last season, rushing for 321 yards and three touchdowns in 85 attempts. Overall, he has rushed for 1,153 yards and seven touchdowns in his career.
Long snapper Gabe Pugh was the only special teams addition for the Bulldogs. Pugh spent the 2019-22 seasons at Alabama, where he was a member of the Crimson Tide’s national championship team in 2020.
Tech added defensive ends in Iowa State transfer Jayden Gray and Ezekiel Durham-Campbell from Lenoir Rhyne.
Gray spent the 2021-22 seasons as a Cyclone, appearing in six games while notching two tackles while appearing primarily on special teams. Gray was a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals coming out of V.R. Eaton High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He finished his senior season with 72 tackles, five sacks, 10 TFL, a forced fumble and 35 QB pressures.
Durham-Campbell appeared in 11 games as a true freshman at Lenoir Rhyne, making 23 total tackles, including eight for loss. He prepped at Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga., helping lead them to a state title in 2019.
Cumbie and staff boosted the Bulldog secondary with five transfer additions in Demarcus Griffin-Taylor from Houston, Tulsa transfer Zion Hopes, Roderick Roberson from SMU and twins Kejuan and Keon Markham by way of Arizona State.
Griffin-Taylor played in all 13 games last season at Houston, tallying 16 total tackles and 12 solo stops while recording a pass breakup and a tackle for loss.
Hopes redshirted as a freshman at Tulsa and appeared in 11 games while making two tackles in 2022. Hopes prepped at Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Texas, where he was a three-star recruit.
Roberson arrives in Ruston after spending four years at SMU, where he appeared in 26 games and made 54 tackles. A three-star recruit by 247sports.com and a 5A All-State honorable mention selection, Roberson had 55 tackles (39 solo), two blocked field goals and seven kickoff returns for 154 yards as a senior in 2018 at Royse City High School.
The Bulldogs closed out their defensive back transfers with twins Kejaun and Keon Markham.
Kejuan appeared in 21 games and tallied 50 tackles and two interceptions during his four seasons with the Sun Devils. He was the second-highest graded freshman safety in the Pac-12, according to Pro Football Focus in 2020.
Keon appeared in nine games as a Sun Devil, recording 29 total tackles and one interception.
The 2023 transfer additions join the 21 high school signees that the Bulldogs signed previously during the early and late signing periods.
The Bulldogs will start spring ball on Tuesday, March 21, and cap their spring slate on April 22, when they host their annual spring game inside Joe Aillet Stadium at 11 a.m.
On the night of March 1st, I was in a hotel room in Idabel, Oklahoma preparing for a leadership and team-building training session the next day at a nearby manufacturing facility.While I was going through the preparation process, I was listening to the La Tech vs Ole Miss baseball game on the radio.I was a little concerned when the game was delayed due to lightning around the ballpark.I’ve been around baseball my entire life either playing or coaching and know the rules associated with the suspension of a game in the middle of an inning.Even though the Bulldogs were winning at the time of the suspension, they were not winning at the completion of the last full inning.
Sure enough, the game would never be resumed.Ole Miss would be named the winner unless they agreed to finish the game later in the season.They would not agree to complete the game.Furthermore, they did what they could to delay the game somewhat in the top of the 7th inning and elected not to tarp the field during the initial delay. There was no motivation for Ole Miss to finish the game.They are part of the SEC and as such, mid-week games don’t mean much to them.They just need to win half their conference game to advance to post-season play.They proved last year that a team can be the last team named to post-season play and still win a national championship.They are a great baseball program and have a great fan base.However, that night, Ole Miss baseball displayed more gamesmanship than sportsmanship.
La Tech is not part of the SEC and isn’t afforded the privileges associated with that conference membership.La Tech either needs to win their conference tournament or win 40+ games and hopefully have enough of those wins against quality opponents to get the attention of the selection committee.That game was much more important to the Bulldogs than Ole Miss.Those factors didn’t matter.Tech would take the defeat and leave with the disappointment.
That story doesn’t have to end there.Whether we are talking Bulldog baseball or life in general, we can evaluate the outcome of a game, a challenge, a negotiation, a sales proposal, a relationship, or any other encounter in life in one of three ways.We can succeed, fail, or learn.
If you live long enough, you will experience the wins and losses of life.The key to life is to learn from these experiences and continue to move toward becoming the individual or team we are destined to become.Far too many of us dwell on the disappointment and fail to learn from the experience.We all need to continue asking ourselves “what can I learn through this experience”.Failure is not losing.Failure is giving up and not reaching our potential, not living out our identity, and not pursuing our purpose.Dealing with disappointment is a key part of that process.Disappointment is a natural emotion.How we move forward makes all the difference.
Whatever your challenge, your obstacle, or your encounter is today, I challenge you to embrace it and learn from it regardless of the outcome.Turn the disappointment into a learning process to propel you toward your destiny.No individual or single event should define us.Learn and move forward.
The Southern Forestry Clubs Conclave, an annual event that draws schools from across the Southeast to compete in forestry-related physical and technical events, is hosted by a different school each year and helps students develop team building, camaraderie, and social skills through diverse competition.
For the first time in 17 years, Louisiana Tech’s Student Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, also known as the Forestry Club, is scheduled to host the event, the 64th Association of Southern Forestry Clubs Conclave.
The Conclave is Thursday through Saturday, March 9-11, at Lincoln Parish Park. Tech and 12 other schools are scheduled to participate. Check-in is Thursday, along with meetings and non-points events in late afternoon. Competition begins at 8 a.m. and ends around 5:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.
To enjoy the Conclave (and root for Tech!), fans will need only to pay the regular park entrance fee of $3.
Competitions will include Technical Events like these:
Timber Estimation
Pole Classification
DBH Estimation
Wildlife Identification
Wood Identification
Compass and Pacing
Dendrology
Photogrammetry
There will also be Physical Events that include the following:
Chain Throwing
Bowsawing
Archery
Axe Throwing
Knife Throwing
Birling
Crosscutting
Pole Felling
Pole Climbing
Log Chopping
Log Rolling
The Conclave also provides an opportunity for forestry students to build professional relationships and compete in a friendly environment.
Jourdan Smith scored a game-high 23 points as the Grambling State University men’s basketball team opened the 2023 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament with a dominating 87-72 victory over Bethune-Cookman at Bartow Arena on Wednesday afternoon.
Grambling State advances to face the winner of Thursday’s quarterfinal match-up between No. 3 Jackson State and No. 6 Prairie View A&M on Friday evening at 8:30 p.m.
Smith went 10-for-13 from the field while grabbing eight rebounds and making three blocks, helping guide the Tigers’ to its 10th consecutive win and its 23rd victory of the season, its most ever as members of Division I.
Cameron Christon, the 2023 SWAC Player of the Year, also had a big day for the Tigers, scoring 14 of his 19 points in the first half. He knocked down 8 of his 11 attempts from the field, including going 3-of-5 from three-point range. The Allen, Texas native was also active on defense, racking up five steals.
Grambling State (23-8) only trailed once in the contest when BCU (12-20) scored the first bucket of game. The Tigers out-powered the Wildcats, using a 20-8 run to open up a 10-point lead with 11:45 to go in the half.
GSU continued to put pressure on BCU, opening up a 30-12 on a 3-pointer by Version Cotton at the 9:15 mark. Grambling State extended its advantage to 20 points, 41-21, on a layup by Jonathan Aku with 4:32 remaining. Aku was the third-leading scorer from GSU, registering 15 points.
The Tigers carried a 47-27 lead into the break.
In the second half, GSU continued to build upon its lead. Christon handed the Tigers its largest lead of the afternoon, 60-37, with 15:06 left in the game.
The Wildcats never threatened GSU in the period, as the Tigers sailed to the 87-72 triumph.
For the game, the Tigers connected on 54.1 percent of its shots from the floor (33-of-61), including going 7-of-11 from behind the arc. GSU once again held a team to under 40 percent, as BCU went just 15-of-40 on its field goal attempts (37.7 percent).
Kevin Davis paced Bethune-Cookman with 21 points, six rebounds and an assist.
Jackson State 59, Lady Tigers 50
The Grambling State University women’s basketball team put a scare in No. 1 seed Jackson State, but fell 59-50 in the opening round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women’s basketball Tournament on Wednesday night at Bartow Arena.
Leah Morrow paced Grambling State (10-20) with 12 points, five rebounds, two steals and an assist.
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm, with the Tigers shooting 25.9 percent from the field (15-of-58), while Jackson State (21-8) was only able to drain 36.7 percent of its field goal attempts (18-of-49). JSU, however used its size to outscore GSU 24-8 in the paint and hold a 45-35 advantage on rebounds.
In the first quarter, Grambling State got out of the gate first, building a quick 5-0 lead and forcing three JSU turnovers, forcing an early timeout by Jackson State. After JSU nabbed a 6-5 lead, Allen splashed mid-range jumper to make it 7-6 GSU with 4:33 left in the period.
GSU pushed its lead to 14-9 on a 3-pointer by Allen at the 2:38 mark. Grambling State led 16-15 at the end of the quarter.
Jurnee McLaurin opened the second frame by knocking down quick three to give GSU a four-point cushion, 19-15. Jackson State used a pair of free throws by Jaliyah Covington to work its way back in front 24-22 with 2:11 remaining in the half.
Both teams traded the lead back and forth for the rest of the half, but settled for a 29-29 tie going into the break.
A free throw from McLaurin and a jumper by Miracle Saxon placed Grambling State ahead 32-29 at the beginning of the third quarter, however, Jackson State grabbed a lead it wouldn’t relinquish on a layup by Daphane White, going up 35-33 with 4:50 to go in the third. JSU took 45-37 lead heading into the fourth period.
JSU utilized its sized and length in the final quarter to muscle its way to a 57-43 lead with 2:18 left. Grambling State managed to shrink the lead back down to double-digits, but wasn’t able to rally back.
On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at approximately 3:45 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop F responded to a two-vehicle crash that occurred on U.S. Highway 167 south of Louisiana Highway 147. This crash claimed the life of 29-year-old Katelyn D. Granger and seven-year-old Anna P. Rivers.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Granger was driving north on U.S. Highway 167 in a 2014 Honda CRV. At the same time, a northbound Jackson Parish school bus was stopped to allow a child to exit. For reasons still under investigation, the Honda CRV struck the rear end of the school bus.
Granger, who was restrained, was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. Rivers, who was not properly restrained, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jackson Parish Coroner’s Office. Two additional juveniles, who were properly restrained, sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The driver of the school bus was properly restrained and was not injured. The juvenile passengers on the school bus either were not injured or received minor injuries. Impairment is not suspected at this time; however, routine toxicology samples were submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, Troopers would like to remind the public of the following: inattentive and distracted driving is dangerous and is a leading cause of crashes in our state. In addition, motorists must ensure all passengers are properly restrained, regardless of the length of travel.
In 2023, Troop F has investigated six fatal crashes, which have resulted in seven fatalities.
Funeral services for Mr. James Paul Turner, age 102 of Ruston, LA will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church in Ruston with Rev. Dana Thrash officiating. Burial will follow in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.
James was born November 17, 1920 in Quitman, LA to William and Addie Causey Turner and passed away March 8, 2023 in Ruston. He served in the United States Army as sergeant during World War II, in the invasion of Normandy for D-Day, campaigns of Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes in the Battle of the Bulge and central Europe. James was a tank driver in the 746 Tank Battalion and received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and a Bronze Indian Head for his services. After the war, he became a carpenter and retired as a heavy construction worker where he had a degree in blueprint reading and built nuclear reactors. James returned home to care for his parents after retirement and returned to carpentry, building many houses until retiring again at the age of 94. Building was his passion. James had a great sense of humor. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. James loved to spend time with his family. He was a Mason and was a member of the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church. James was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years and the love of his life Marjorie Louise Day Turner; three brothers: Claudie Mitchell Turner, William Wesley Turner and Rhode Turner; and one sister Minnie Neeles.
James is survived by his sons Michael Turner of Ruston and Stephen Turner and wife Sylvia of Choudrant, LA; granddaughter Sarah Louise Turner and husband Dylan Castaneda of Ruston; grandson Joshua Paul Turner and wife Chelsea of Farmerville, LA; step-grandson David Horn of Ruston; three great-grandchildren: Emery Castaneda of Ruston, Olivia Castaneda of Ruston and Madison Turner of Farmerville; two sisters Addie Lynn Pearl of Quitman and Bettye Sue Turner of Jonesboro, LA; and a host of other family and many friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Dylan Castaneda, Billy Pipes, Will Neeles, Tyler Neeles, Joshua Turner and Chris Love. Honorary pallbearers are Charles Neeles and Loyol Lynne, Jr.
Visitation will be held from 8:00-10:00 AM, Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com.
Steven Patterson Sunday 06/28/1959 — Wednesday 03/01/2023 Family Gathering: Thursday 03/09/2023 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Friday 03/10/2023 11:00am, Zion Traveler Baptist Church, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston Interment: Friday 03/10/2023, Pleasant Grove Cemetery, 446 Bowden Road, Ruston (Clay)
Brooke Davis October 8, 1972 – March 4, 2023 Funeral Service: Saturday, March 11, 2023, 11:00 AM, Residence, 118 Tonways Rd, Bernice
Randie Rae Pierce Sunday 09/21/1947 — Saturday 02/25/2023 Family Gathering: Friday 03/10/2023 2:00pm to 3:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Visitation: Friday 03/10/2023 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/11/2023 1:00pm at: St. Peter Baptist Church, 899 St. Peter Road, Ruston Interment: Saturday 03/11/2023 Following Service, St. Peter Church Cemetery, St. Peter Road, Ruston
The Lincoln Parish School Board received highly positive remarks in its monthly meeting Tuesday night after its annual independent audit of the fiscal year 2021-22 with the highest result of “unmodified opinion” given.
“We are very proud of the results,” Lincoln Parish School Board Superintendent Ricky Durrett said. “It shows that our financial people work very hard and do a great job accounting for all of the money that we have gotten, especially with all the stimulus money and federal money that’s flowed through. That, I think, is a big credit to them and the great job that they do down there and taking care of taxpayer money and making sure it’s spent like it’s supposed to be.”
Amy Tynes of the Monroe CPA firm of Allen, Green & Williamson, gave the report after the approval of minutes from the Feb. 7 session, where she detailed various financial data and concluded by thanking the school board for its cooperation.
“With us working with you all, I cannot express how awesome it was working with your team,” Tynes said about the members that contributed to the report. “I greatly appreciate your staff, too, in the audit process that we were able to get this accomplished and accomplished timely.”
During the New Business section, the school board adopted a resolution to designate the week of April 24-28, 2023, as Support Personnel Week as a way to honor school bus operators, food service employees, custodians, secretaries, clerical personnel, teacher aides, bus aides, makers, technicians, paraprofessionals and others that are vital to the efficient operation of the Lincoln Parish school system.
Ricky Edminston read a majority of the resolution to the board before its passing.
Prior to adjourning, school board member David Ferguson brought up carried over concerns from the previous meeting in regards to the proposal to combine Ruston’s elementary schools, requesting further details on the criteria and evidence that the proposed plan would work.
Current RHS coach Ryan Bond (left) leads his Bearcats into Marsh Madness this week while former Ruston coach Jack Thigpen led the program to its last state title in 1988. (Photo by Malcolm Butler)
By T. Scott Boatright
It’s kind of a case of double dribble déjà vu for Jack Thigpen, who by no means is a stranger to state basketball championships.
And seeing the Ruston Bearcats reach this year’s state tournament for the first time since 1988 has brought memories flooding back.
Thigpen was head coach of the 1988 Bearcats team that won the Class 4A state title. He also helped take state as a Ruston player in 1962 as a junior, defeating Natchitoches, and was also a member of the 1963 RHS team that fell to Neville in the state championship game.
The 2023 Bearcats are the No. 2 seed in the Division I Nonselect School boys playoffs and will take on No. 3 seed Ponchatoula in semifinals action at 6 p.m. Thursday at Barton Coliseum in Lake Charles. It’s the first time a Ruston boys team has made it back to the state tournament since the 1988 state title run.
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the weekend,” Thigpen said. “But I think about it often this year, particularly at the end of basketball season as someone who won state championships as both a player and a coach. It was always an exciting time as a player and a coach, and still is as a fan. I still love to go to games and know a lot of coaches in the area.
“But it becomes a different game once you enter the playoffs. It’s just so exciting and memorable – impossible to forget. So yes, I think about those old championships every year about this time, and the fact Ruston is finally going back is making those memories even stronger and more powerful now.”
Thigpen first coached the Bearcats from 1986 through that magical 1988 season, and later, after a stint as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, served as Ruston’s head coach again from 1995 through the 2000 season.
The 1988 Bearcats were based around a pair of big men – senior forward Anthony Dade, who sent on to a standout career at Louisiana Tech, and junior Al Thurman.
“Those were two outstanding players,” Thigpen said. “Both were inside players, but Al could shoot the ball. He could go outside a little bit and had a nice, slick shot. He was good around the free-throw line.
“So we played a double post with Al and Anthony, who was real quick on his feet and made a lot of great spin moves around the basket. We played Anthony down in the low post and Al in the high post and designed plays to get those guys loose inside.”
Thigpen said the 1988 Bearcats had some good outside players and a solid point guard to mix with their double-barrelled inside attack.
“We had an outstanding shooting guard in Lance Hall who could go out on the perimeter and loosen some things up,” Thigpen said. “And Gerald Johnson and Kent Germany were two other guards who did outstanding jobs for us.
“Our point guard – Willie Melton – was an outstanding leader on that basketball team. He didn’t care about scoring, but he got the ball down and got everybody in place and made good passes. A good team has to have a good floor leader, and Willie was that. A lot of games he wouldn’t take a shot. But he was so important in helping us win games by feeding the ball where it needed to be, playing unselfishly and playing good defense.”
Ruston beat previously undefeated John McDonough for the 1988 title 55-51.
“John McDonough beat East Ascension, who was coached by someone well known around here – Butch Smart – in the semifinals,” Thigpen said. “We beat Shaw, a Catholic school out of New Orleans, in the semifinals. They had a player – Melvin Simon – who played a lot like Anthony Dade and went on to have a heckuva career at the University of New Orleans.
“Then we beat John McDonough for the championship. It was a low-scoring, hard-fought game.”
Thigpen said the Bearcats opened the 1988 playoffs with a win over Airline and followed that up by defeating what was known then as Lee High School out of Baton Rouge (now known as Liberty) with both of those games being played as Louisiana Tech’s Thomas Assembly Center.
“Then we played McKinley High School at Istrouma. We played the best basketball team in Baton Rouge that year – McKinley – and then we played the best Catholic High School team from New Orleans in Shaw before playing the best team out of New Orleans in John McDonough. So we played some pretty good teams.”
Thigpen said determination and unselfishness were the keys that led the Bearcats to a state title.
“It was a true team,” Thigpen said. “No one was out there trying to showboat and or anything like that. They didn’t care who scored. All they wanted to do was win. You don’t win a state championship without good players, but that was a team win — a team season – from start to finish.
“We had the players I’ve mentioned and other guys like Chucky Jenkins coming off the bench, but everybody knew their roles. All they wanted to do was win and they did whatever it took to make that happen.”
Another magical memory for Thigpen during that 1988 state title run was being able to share it with his son Phillip, a sophomore team member that season.
“That was very special,” Thigpen said. “I know it was special for me, and I’m pretty sure it was just as special for him. Think about how special that season was for me to have won a state championship for Ruston, come back here to coach and then be able to win another state championship with my son as a member of the team.
“The last time Ruston had won a state championship at that point was when I was playing for the Bearcats.So those are amazing memories that Phillip and I talk about from time to time.”
