Cedar Creek’s girls powerlifting team finished second at the North Regional Meet this weekend. (Courtesy Photo)
by Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek’s girls powerlifting team took second place at the 2024 North Girls Regional Powerlifting Meet held Ruston High School this weekend.
The Lady Cougars recorded eight podium finishes (top 3) and finished runner-up to 5A West Monroe High School.
Lauren Enterkin won first place in the 165-pound class with a three-lift total of 980 pounds, earning her the Most Outstanding Lifter Award on the heavy platform.
Alli Claire Johnson (97-pound class), Emma Moore (123-pound class) and Ainsley Riley (148-pound class) all won their respective divisions as well. Johnson totaled 540 pounds, Moore 795 pounds and Riley 860 pounds to capture first place.
“Our girls are ready to head to Lafayette and defend their title again,” said head coach Jacob Angevine. “I’m so proud of them. Sarah Wages and the Ruston High School staff put on a great meet despite having to change locations due to the construction at their own gym.”
Ashlyn Bourn (2nd, 181-pound class), Rosemary Sewell (3rd, 132-pound class), Olivia Salter (3rd, 165-pound class), and Gia Fernandez (3rd, 198-pound class) also earned podium finishes at the regional meet.
Ruston High’s softball team (7-4) was unable to notch a win over the weekend at the Pineville Tournament, falling to Jena 15-1 on Friday and then 13-2 to Grant and 9-5 to Iowa on Saturday.
“Well we struggled this weekend unfortunately,” Ruston High head softball coach Laura Garvie said. “We were a little over anxious at the plate and the balls we did make contact with weren’t necessarily full barrel. Some were for sure, but unfortunately just not consistent enough to make an impact. The girls were upset with how they showed up because they it’s not a true representation of what they’ve been doing and who they are. Because of that, they went right back to work fixing things and are working to do the same today.”
Jena would get the win after five innings due to the run-rule. Junior Morgan Foster would get two hits for the Bearcats in three plate appearances.
Against Grant, Ruston would get a home run from Foster in the fifth inning to score two, but it would not be enough to rally back in the loss.
Lastly, senior Cala Wilson would get four hits including home runs in the third and sixth innings against Iowa after tailing 5-0 in the bottom of the third.
Baseball
The Ruston Bearcats (1-3) were swept in a weekend series against Haughton, falling 11-9 on Thursday on the road, 9-5 at home and then 6-4 back on the road.
“These were definitely not the results we were looking for,” Ruston High head coach Zack Smith said. “We’re a team that’s based on good pitching and good defense, and we didn’t reach that expectation this weekend. They showed a lot of fight over the weekend; they put up a lot of fight. The guys continued to fight. We’d be down and then tie the ball game; that’s a positive thing from this weekend. They just didn’t quit, and that’s something we’ve been preaching about and all we can ask for.”
After taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the second, the Bearcats would give up four runs in the bottom of the third.
Ruston would rally back from seven runs down to get close to the Buccaneers in the top of the seventh after scoring five runs, which would not be enough. Junior Talan Billberry would strike out three and walk five in two and two-thirds innings.
On Friday, Ruston would out-hit Haughton nine-to-eight, but it would not be enough. Senior pitcher Henry James struck out two in four innings on the mound. Both junior Carter Love and junior Peyton Martin would collect multiple hits, while senior Jacoryian Crowe would steal four bases.
Lastly on Saturday, Ruston would score all of its four runs in the top of the third, but four errors and multiple walks would help Haughton total six runs on just one hit.
Cedar Creek (3-2) won two out of three over the weekend, posting victories over Lake Charles College Prep (12-1) and Vermilion Catholic (8-7) while falling to Doyle (7-4) at the Ro Classic, named in honor of former collegiate baseball coach Tony Robichaux hosted by North Vermilion High School.
The weekend was highlighted by the Cougars seven-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Vermilion Catholic by a score of 8-7.
Head coach Chad Yates said he felt like not only that win, but the entire weekend will go a long way in building the players confidence this season.
“For our club it was huge,” said Yates. “The buy in factor that we have been preaching as far as to play until the last out … for them to experience that, I wholeheartedly feel it will turn our season into something special. It was a big win and something special.”
Cedar Creek will travel to face Winnfield at 4 p.m. today before starting the Trey Altick Tournament on Thursday.
Cedar Creek 12, Lake Charles Prep 1 (Friday)
The Cougars led only 2-0 heading into the top of the fifth inning before exploding for a 10-spot in the 12-1 victory over Lake Charles Prep.
Blake Wade (2-3, 2 RBI), Kade Luker (2-4, 2 RBI), Trent Franklin (1-4, 3 RBI), Noah Durrett (1-4, 2 RBI), and Connor Yates (1-4, RBI) all drove in runs for the Cougars in the win.
Max Brister went the distance to pick up the win on the mound, working 5.0 innings while allowing jsut one run on four hits with six strikeouts.
“Max Brister went out and gave us a great effort on the mound,” said Yates. “He threw a ton of strikes. They had a left handed pitcher that held us in check and we squandered a couple of early opportunities to score. We eventually got to him. Connor had a two-out line drive to left field that put us ahead and then we went on to score nine straight runs after that. That was a huge break. The biggest takeaway from that win was we took care of the baseball. We didn’t make any errors. There were a lot of balls put in play. Overall, we played our best baseball of the season.”
Cedar Creek 8, Vermilion Catholic 7 (Saturday)
The Cougars found themselves trailing 7-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but never flinched.
Creek sent 11 batters to the plate in the frame, scoring seven runs on three hits, four walks, one HBP and a costly throwing error by Vermilion Catholic.
Luker (2-3, RBI), Franklin (2-4, RBI), Ladd Thompson (1-2, RBI), Hayden Durrett (1-1, RBI), Brister (1-3, RBI) all recorded hits and RBI in the victory.
Brett Bell picked up the win in relief, allowing two runs (1 earned) on one hit and two walks in 1.0 inning of action. Jackson Mock was solid in relief of starter, Gavin Hall, working 4.0 innings allowing just one run on four hits and one walk.
“Gavin started the game for us,” said Yates. “They got off to a good start. Gavin competed but they were able to put the bat on the ball and get some early runs. Jackson Mock came on in relief and pitched really well. He kept the game where it was at. Offensively, we just couldn’t get anything going against those guys. We had a couple of opportunities where we came away with nothing. Our motto is to trust your teammates and your coaches and give you very best effort. These guys did that to the end.
“We were down 7-1 in the bottom of the seventh and we just kept putting at bats together, getting the next guy to the plate. That’s the unselfishness we preach. Before you know it, we had gotten to their pitcher and he was having trouble throwing strikes. That got their defense on its heels and they made a couple of errors. Every guy that came to plate gave a good effort and battled. We found ourselves down two runs with the bases loaded. We were able to hit a ball that their shortstop couldn’t handle and he overthrew first base and we were able to score the winning run. For our club it was huge.”
Doyle 7, Cedar Creek 4 (Saturday)
Cedar Creek almost made it two comebacks in a row.
The Cougars trailed 6-0 after four innings before plating four runs over the final three at bats. However, it wasn’t enough as they fell to the defending state runner-up Tigers.
Franklin (3-4, 2 RBI), Luker (2-3), Wade (1-4), Thompson (1-3, RBI), and Bister (1-2) accounted for the eight Cougar hits in the game.
Luker took the loss on the mound, allowing six runs (4 earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out six.
“They threw a really good right handed pitcher that held us in check,” said Yates. “Our goal against him was to see a lot of pitches to hopefully get his pitch count up so we could get to their pen. We eventually did that. Our kids battled. Luker started the game by striking out the side. He gave up a run in the second and then began to falter a little bit in the third inning.
“JB Robinson came in and really filled the gap for us. He threw a ton of strikes and kept the ball down in the zone and kept us within striking distance. It was 7-2 going to the seventh and again we found ourselves in position late in the game with a chance to win it, but they held us off.
“We had a lot of growing up. We had a couple of eighth graders (Cason Floyd, Eli Slocum) into games this weekend. It gives us an outlook on a couple of guys that can help us this year as eighth graders. To come out with two wins and to finish our week 3-2, we are pleased. We are just looking to get better each time out.”
Left to Right: Jianna Morris, Isaiah Crawford, Allie Floyd
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
A trio of Louisiana Tech student-athletes earned an assortment of weekly Conference USA honors.
Women’s Basketball
Jianna Morris was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, announced by the league on Monday.
The Lady Techsters’ point guard was instrumental during Tech’s 2-0 week with 17 points, four rebounds, and five assists.
Against UTEP, Morris scored eight of her 10 points in the second half, including a buzzer-beater from 40 feet out at the end of the third quarter that pushed momentum back in LA Tech’s favor. She added two rebounds and two assists with zero turnovers in 34 minutes of action.
The Sherwood, Ark., native contributed seven points, two rebounds, and three assists in the Lady Techsters’ overtime win against New Mexico State on Saturday. She would again control the pace of play with just one turnover in 39 minutes.
Morris and the Lady Techsters host WKU for the final game in the Thomas Assembly Center on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
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Men’s Basketball
After helping lead Louisiana Tech to a pair of conference road wins, Isaiah Crawford was voted as the Conference USA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week as announced by the league office on Monday.
Crawford nearly averaged a double-double in the process with 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game while helping keep the Bulldogs in first place in the CUSA standings.
Against UTEP in El Paso, the forward tallied 19 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists. He followed that performance up two days later at New Mexico State by posting a game-high 20 points and 10 boards for this third double-double of the season while playing the full 90 minutes.
He also blocked three shots versus the Aggies, giving him 50 for the season which is the second most in CUSA behind teammate Daniel Batcho.
The Forth Worth, Texas native anchored the top defense in the league again by helping hold both opponents to under 60 points and under 40 percent shooting from the field.
This marks the first ever CUSA Player of the Week honor for Crawford despite being a two-time All-CUSA selection with 111 games played at LA Tech. He is the second Bulldog to receive the award this season (other being Daniel Batcho).
Crawford and the Bulldogs wrap up a three-game road swing on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at WKU. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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Softball
Louisiana Tech Pitcher Allie Floyd has been named the Blenders Eyeware Conference USA Pitcher of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
Floyd was nearly unhittable during her two appearances last week. The sophomore right-hander pitched 14 shutout innings, struck out ten, and allowed five hits and no walks while picking up a pair of victories in the circle and limiting opponents to a .109 on-base percentage.
Floyd threw her first career complete-game shutout during a 2-0 win over Missouri State on Feb. 23. She struck out seven while surrendering just three hits and no walks. After the first two Missouri State batters of the ballgame reached base, Floyd breezed through the visiting lineup by retiring 21 of her final 23 batters faced. Her seven strikeouts during the complete-game shutout were the second most in her career and just one shy of her career-high of eight, which she set earlier this season.
One day later, she came out of the bullpen to pick up her fourth win of the season by throwing seven shutout innings in relief during the Bulldogs’ 3-2 win over Missouri State in 11 innings. Floyd struck out three Missouri State batters and issued just two hits and a walk during the relief victory.
Floyd is 4-0 this season with a 0.88 ERA while limiting opposing hitters to a .170 batting average in 32 innings pitched. The East Bernard, Texas product has also earned two saves.
Floyd’s selection marks the 28th time Louisiana Tech has had a representative earn Conference Pitcher of the Week honors and the 14th as a member of Conference USA.
Louisiana Tech has now had a representative receive the honor in back-to-back weeks, as Brook Melnychuk was named CUSA Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 19. It is the first time since 2018 that the Bulldogs have earned CUSA Pitcher of the Week honors in consecutive weeks when Preslee Gallaway accomplished the feat on April 16 and April 23 of that year.
The Bulldogs will look to improve to 10-2 when they travel to Central Arkansas on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. midweek matchup. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Grambling State University head football coach Mickey Joseph has announced the addition of Eric Dooley to his staff as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach.
Dooley, a former Grambling State football player under legendary head coach Eddie Robinson, returns to GSU after serving as head football coach at Southern University.
Prior to his stint at SU, Dooley served as head coach at Prairie View A&M. At PVAMU he guided the Panthers to the 2021 SWAC Championship game after winning the 2021 SWAC Western Division Championship, finishing with an 7-5 (6-2 SWAC) record.
During that season, four Panthers earned all-conference honors. Under Coach Dooley Prairie View finished third in both team total offense and defensive categories in 2021. He was named the 2021 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 3 Co-Coach of the Year.
Coach Dooley and the Panthers concluded the Spring 2021 campaign with a 2-1 record, with a pair of conference wins.
He guided one of the nation’s most explosive and productive offenses in the country in 2019. The Panthers ranked No. 4 nationally in total offense while garnering top 25 rankings in passing offense, rushing offense, scoring offense, passing efficiency, passing defensive efficiency and sacks allowed. PVAMU led the SWAC in total offense and ranked second — 35th nationally — in total defense. Seven players earned all-conference honors during that season.
In his first season at PVAMU, the Panthers became the first team in program history to have three 60-point scoring games in one season. PVAMU ended the season with back-to-back 60-point games against Alabama St. (66-13) and Texas Southern (60-14) while recording the largest margin of victory over the Tigers in program history.
PVAMU set a school record with 815 yards total offense in a win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 22, 2018, tallying a total of nine touchdowns.
Prior to PVAMU Coach Dooley spent four seasons at Grambling State University as offensive coordinator 2014-2017, including one year as quarterbacks coach (2014) and two years as receivers coach (2016-17). Dooley helped the Tigers to three consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division titles 2015, 2016 and 2017, two SWAC Championships 2016 and 2017, and an HBCU National Championship in 2016. While at GSU, his offenses averaged at least 31 points per game in all four seasons and ranked first or second in the SWAC in scoring offense each of the last three seasons. In 2016, he was named American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Assistant Coach of the Year.
Under Dooley’s instruction and guidance in 2015, Grambling State ranked fourth in the nation in scoring (41.3 points per game), scored 65 touchdowns, and averaged 470.0 yards per game. The Tigers produced the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year during 2015-2017. A pair of players during Dooley’s tenure made NFL rosters in 2016 free agent WR Chester Rogers – Indianapolis Colts and 2017 third-round draft pick Chad Williams – Arizona Cardinals.
In three seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas-Pine Bluff 2011-2013, the Golden Lions offense improved each year under his direction. In 2011, QB Ben Anderson earned SWAC Freshman of the Year accolades while ranking second in the league in passing offense. In 2012, UAPB set a school record for wins (10) and won its first outright SWAC Championship since 1966 and were crowned HBCU National Champions. During Dooley’s tenure, tackle Terron Armstead became a third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Those seven seasons as offensive coordinator was preceded by 14 years as an assistant coach at Southern University 1997-2010. During his time with the Jaguars, he helped guide SU to five SWAC Championships 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003 and two HBCU National Championships 1997 and 2003.
Coach Dooley played wide receiver at Grambling State under legendary coach Eddie Robinson 1985 – 1988, winning two SWAC Championships. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern University New Orleans in 1999, and his master’s degree from Southern University Baton Rouge in 2005.
His professional playing experience includes earning a free agent contract with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders, one year with the AFL’s Arizona Rattlers and one year with the World League’s Taipei Dragons (China). He also spent time coaching at his alma mater, Alcee Fortier Senior High, as the wide receiver coach, and as offensive coordinator at McMain High School, both in New Orleans, La.
He’s a member of the American Football Coaches Association as well as being a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Dooley and his wife Alicia, enjoy the gift of three children, Taajah, Katerra, and Dy’mond.
Funeral services for Wanda Copeland, age 63 of Ruston, LA, will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston with Rev. Leroy Skipper officiating. Burial will follow in the Longstraw Cemetery in Choudrant, LA under direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.
Wanda Carol Copeland passed away peacefully at her home on February 25, 2024 joining her loved ones in their eternal home. She was a person with a bright light and contagious spirit. Wanda was honest, uplifting and guaranteed to make you laugh. Some of her most cherished times were being spent with family and friends. She will be greatly missed and never forgotten. Wanda is predeceased by her parents Walter and Virginia Skipper; her brother, Clayton Skipper and sisters, Peggy Dotson and Angie Strozier. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Tom Copeland; daughters: Candace McGrew and husband Jeff, Bridget Hottle and Kaeley Copeland; four grandchildren: Blake McGrew, Sydney McGrew, Landon Rucker and Vada Hottle; great-grandchild, Haelynn McGrew and brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Sherry Skipper.
Visitation will be from 12:30 PM until service time Saturday at Owens Memorial Chapel.
William Terry Stewart September 30, 1947 – February 23, 2024 Visitation: Thursday, February 29, 2024, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Graveside Service: Thursday, February 29, 2024, 3:00 PM, Mineral Springs Cemetery, Highway 822, Dubach
Wanda Copeland October 13, 1960 – February 25, 2024 Visitation: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday, March 2, 2024, 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Cemetery Committal: Saturday, March 2, 2024, Longstraw Cemetery, 1799 Styles Ranch Road, Choudrant
Colin Campbell November 22, 1968 – February 18, 2024 Memorial Service: Thursday, February 29, 2024, 11:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home
Reverend Cornelius Samuel Thursday 10/04/1945 — Monday 02/19/2024 Age: 78 Visitation: Friday 03/01/2024 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/02/2024 11:00am, Zion Traveler Baptist Church, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive. Ruston Interment: Saturday 03/02/2024 Following Service, Zeller Cemetery, Eros
Leandrew Riley Wednesday 05/28/1947 — Friday 02/16/2024 Age: 76 Visitation: Thursday 02/29/2024 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Friday 03/01/2024 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home Interment: Friday 03/01/2024 Following Service, Northeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 2412 US-425, Rayville
A Night to Shine participants walk the red carpet during the 6th annual event hosted at Louisiana Tech. (Courtesy Photo)
By Emma Stone
A “Night to Shine” (NTS) prom celebrated a community dedicated to showcasing the unique beauty in special needs individuals on February 9 on the Louisiana Tech campus.
Approximately 130 guests, 110 caregivers and 250 volunteers participated in the 6th annual event which is founded by the Tim Tebow Foundation, an organization that sponsors and supports special needs events across the United States.
Clayton Owen, Minister of Pastoral Care and Groups at First Baptist Ruston, took the lead in organizing the prom.
“Night to Shine has to be hosted by a church, so I was the staff leader assigned to the project,” said Owen. “I got to work with a great team of volunteers.”
Owen said the event’s success was also in large part to the hard work of Brittany Jackson, First Ruston Media Specialist, Jana Beck, Project Director, and former project director Tara Smith, as well as all of the volunteers.
The night began with a red-carpet entrance for guests that included photos and cheers.
“The red carpet is simply meant to be a moment where each person is celebrated and gets to shine,” said Owen. “The Tim Tebow Foundation wants every guest to know they are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ from Psalms 139.”
Guests were assigned a buddy, which are volunteers from local churches, businesses, area colleges and high schools, and organizations, who help take them to the shoeshine or makeup stations.
Following the make-over, guests were led to the photo booth and other activities, including limo rides, karaoke and plenty of food provided by local vendors.
“Tim Tebow provides a video word of love and encouragement,” said Owen. “Everyone receives a crown as they are named prom queens and kings.”
Local high school baseball teams along with organizations from Louisiana Tech crowned each guest, giving out special gift bags and a final dance.
“A huge thank you to all the First Baptist family for supporting the event with volunteers and finances,” said Owen. “A thank you to all the community volunteers. We couldn’t have done it without them. A huge shout out to all the business who donated food and services, and to our parents, caregivers and special guests.”
Regardless of ability A Night to Shine is more than a prom but a radiant celebration of the beauty of each person.
The Ruston Cultural District has announced an open call for artists to submit designs for the final round of the Bulldog Project, a public art initiative aimed at enhancing the cultural vibrancy of the Downtown Ruston community.
Applicants must submit designs to RCD by April 15. Artists will be notified of acceptance on May 1, will pick up the blank dog on June 3, and will return the completed project on August 1.
The Bulldog Auction will be held in September. Proceeds from this auction will benefit the Ruston Cultural District through public art initiatives, events, and the promotion of local culture throughout the district.
Key Submission Guidelines:
Up to Three Designs: There is a three-design maximum per artist. Each design must have its own dedicated form submission. (There is a template included in the application for design submittal.)
Appropriateness for Public Viewing: As the bulldogs will be displayed in public areas, artists are urged to consider appropriateness for a diverse public audience.
Blind Judging Panel: The judging process will be conducted by a blind panel, ensuring impartial evaluation without knowledge of the artists’ identities.
Responsibility for Design Execution: Artists whose designs are selected are expected to complete the design as submitted. The RCD will not be responsible for final payment if there are deviations from the submitted design.
Colorfastness and High-Quality Materials: Given the outdoor nature of this public art project, colorfastness is crucial. Only high-quality materials, including paints from the provided “acceptable paints” list, may be used. Artists are encouraged to consult with the RCD Board for alternative methods before submission.
Artist payment: Artists whose designs are chosen will receive a $500 supply stipend upon pickup of the blank dog. Upon returning the completed project as planned, each artist will receive an additional $1000.
This opportunity invites artists to contribute to the cultural fabric of Ruston and leave a lasting mark on public spaces.
The Bulldog Project aims to celebrate creativity and showcase the diverse talent within the community.
For more information on the Ruston Cultural District and the Bulldog Project, please contact Ruston Cultural District President Amy Stegall at 318-251-8647 or amystegall@rustonla.gov.
The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce hosted a Capitol Chats event with Congresswoman Julia Letlow on Thursday, February 22, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Davison Athletics Complex on Louisiana Tech University’s campus. The event was sponsored by Origin Bank. Congresswoman Letlow addressed business leaders from Lincoln Parish, providing updates on initiatives impacting our community.
Following the event, Congresswoman Letlow met with executives from businesses who have invested in the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber with a presidential-level membership and above.
“We were pleased to host Congresswoman Letlow and want to thank her for engaging with our business community,” said Elizabeth Turnley, chair of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “We are grateful to Congresswoman Letlow for her steadfast leadership in Washington, D.C., and for representing our interests in North Louisiana.”
The event featured a question-and-answer session with Congresswoman Letlow moderated by William Dearmon, President and CEO of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber. Congresswoman Letlow discussed her current legislative priorities and their impact on Lincoln Parish and shared her insights on government funding challenges and the most recent news affecting Louisiana’s congressional map.
“I’m grateful to Congresswoman Letlow for speaking to us about a variety of important issues that impact our community,” said Dearmon. “I also want to thank our business leaders for attending and communicating our priorities to ensure we maintain a business-friendly environment in Lincoln Parish.”
For more information about the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber and upcoming events, visit www.rustonlincoln.org.
A West Monroe man was arrested for his third DWI last Saturday on Interstate 20 near Ruston.
A state trooper stopped Caleb M. Chavers, 26, at about 4:30 a.m. last Saturday morning after a concerned motorist reported his erratic driving to Louisiana State Police in Monroe. The trooper spotted Chavers walking away from his parked vehicle westbound on I-20 between Choudrant and Ruston.
The motorist reported Chavers was weaving from lane to lane, alternating between 45 and 80 miles per hour and at one point struck the cable barrier in the median.
The trooper noticed an odor of alcoholic beverage on Chavers’s breath and requested he submit to field sobriety testing. Chavers refused and was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
Chavers failed to provide a breath sample in the allotted time. A records check showed his driver’s license was under suspension and that he was arrested for DWI in 2016 and 2018.
Chavers was booked for third offense DWI, careless operation, open container, and driving under suspension. Bail was set at $41,000.
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.
Lincoln Parish residents still have time to register to vote in the 2024 presidential preference and municipal primary election.
The final deadline to register to vote or make changes is March 2 through the GeauxVote Online Registration System.
Voters registered as Democrat can vote in the Democratic Party primary and voters registered as Republican can vote in the Republican Party primary. These primaries are closed to all other registered voters.
Election Quick Facts are available at www.sos.la.gov.
Please call the Lincoln Parish Registrar of Voters Office at 318-251-5110 if you have any questions regarding eligibility to vote in this election. The Lincoln Parish Registrar of Voters’ office is located at 100 W. Texas Ave., Room 10.
A Ruston man was arrested last Saturday night after he allegedly struck another man with a steel pipe.
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at a mobile home park on Tarbutton Road about 11 p.m. The victim told deputies that Geovanni Galo-Hernandez, 32, had hit him on the leg and the back with a pipe.
Deputies saw a three- to four-inch laceration on his right shin and a large red mark on his back. The victim was taken to the North Louisiana Medical Center for treatment.
Galo was arrested at the scene for aggravated battery and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. Bail was set at $10,000.
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.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Monday, Feb. 26 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street)
Tuesday, Feb. 27 10 a.m.: Storytime at Lincoln Parish Library 6 p.m.: Alma Woodsey Thomas Inspired Adult Painting Class (Registration required by calling 318-513-5510; Lincoln Parish Library)
Wednesday, Feb. 28 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: LA Tech women’s basketball
Louisiana Tech extended its winning streak to four, sweeping its road trip to the mountains by defeating New Mexico State, 67-58, inside the Pan American Center.
In doing so, LA Tech (20-8, 10-3 CUSA) did something that has become the norm and that is reach 20 wins on the season. They also did something that was definitely not the norm and that was defeat NM State (11-17, 5-8 CUSA) in Las Cruces as the Bulldogs had tried and failed 10 times before.
“We did not have the right mindset the first 25 minutes or so,” said Tech head coach Talvin Hester. “I challenged the guys. We had to go out there and take it. You could see the attitudes change, not just the guys on the floor but the guys on the bench too. We made a concerted effort to get the ball inside since they were not going in from three. Good things happened then and were able to pull out a win.”
The match-up played out very similar to Thursday night’s game at UTEP as neither team could pull away from the other, ultimately coming down to the last five minutes.
And the Bulldogs flexed their muscle yet again, executing on offense to a tee and getting defensive stop after defensive stop – LA Tech made its last six field goals while NM State made just one field goal in the last five minutes.
After the Aggies retook the lead by one with 5:26 to go in the game, LA Tech outscored NM State, 14-4, the rest of the way. The Bulldogs had already dug themselves out of a 7-point hole, their largest deficit when the home team hit their eighth three-pointer of the contest about eight minutes deep into the second half.
Tahlik Chavez scored on a driving bucket to give LA Tech the lead again at 55-54. And it was a lead they would not relinquish. Sean Newman Jr. followed with five straight points, including a huge three-pointer from the wing.
NM State’s lone field goal late came after, cutting its deficit down to 60-56, but Isaiah Crawford countered with an old-fashioned three-point play. The defense did the rest as the Aggies missed their last three field goals.
After shooting just 34.8 percent in the first half (game was tied 26-26 at halftime), the Bulldogs erupted for 60.0 percent shooting in the second half. Crawford recorded his third double-double of the season with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks.
Chavez (16), Daniel Batcho (13), and Newman Jr. (10) were the other Bulldogs that scored in double figures.
The Aggies were held to 38.8 percent shooting for the game, led by Christian Cook and Jordan Rawls who each had 16 points.
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Lady Techsters 70, New Mexico State 63 (OT)
Louisiana Tech erased a four-point deficit with a minute remaining to force overtime before taking control in the extra period to beat New Mexico State 70-63 on Saturday afternoon in the Thomas Assembly Center.
With the win, LA Tech improved to 11-17 overall and 5-8 in Conference USA, while NM State dropped to 11-15 and 5-8 in conference. The Lady Techsters are now in a four-way tie for fifth in the conference with three games remaining.
Tech found themselves in a six-point hole just two minutes into the contest. The Lady Techsters erased that deficit by the long ball. Salma Bates’ second triple of the quarter cut the Aggie lead down to 13-9 and ignited an 11-0 run. NM State would finish with the final four points of the quarter for a 17-17 tie after the first.
The second stanza was a defensive battle. The teams would combine for 13 points on 6-of-21 from the field and 1-of-9 from deep. Robyn Lee scored the final four points of the half to keep NM State’s lead to just 26-21.
Out of the break, the Lady Techster focused on moving the ball around to find open shots, which paid off. The Lady Techsters quickly erased the deficit and took a 43-39 advantage into the fourth thanks to three separate six-point runs.
Tech got to the foul line early and often in the fourth. After four straight from the charity stripe grew the lead to six, NM State chipped away at the lead and held a four-point advantage with a minute remaining.
That’s when Anna Larr Roberson connected on the 11thg and 12th free-throw attempts in the quarter to cut it down to 55-53. After an Aggie miss, the Lady Techsters had a chance to tie it up. After NM State knocked the ball out of bounds, Paris Guillory inbounded to Roberson, circled around her, and received the handoff in front of the Lady Techster bench. Guillory drove to the opposite block and laid the ball up to tie the game with eight seconds remaining.
Amaya Brannon gave Tech the lead four good a minute into overtime. The Lady Techsters closed the game by making 7-of-8 from the charity stripe.
Louisiana Tech finished with five players in double figures, led by Roberson with 14 points and four boards. Brannon and Lee chipped in 13, while Bates and Guillory had 10 apiece.
Ene Adams was the leading scorer for New Mexico State with 15 boards. Sylena Peterson was the only other Aggie in double digits at 12.
The Grambling State University men’s basketball team stormed back in the second half to erase a 14-point halftime deficit and defeat Southern 63-57 at F.G. Clark Activity Center on Saturday afternoon.
The comeback was identical to earlier this season when GSU overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the Jaguars. On Saturday, Grambling State (14-13 overall, 11-3 SWAC) also trailed by as much as 17, but outscored SU 40-20 in the closing period.
Terrence Lewis had the hot hand for the Tigers, scoring 16 a game-high 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor. He added three rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal to his tally.
Tra’Michael Moton also scored in double-figures, contributing 13 points with five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Southern (16-11, 10-4) put pressure on the Tigers early, crafting a 17-9 lead midway through the opening period. The Jaguars continued to build on their advantage, pushing it to 29-13 at the 5:18 mark. A three-pointer by Brndon Davis gave Southern its largest cushion of the day, 32-15, with 4:25 to go in the first half.
SU carried a 37-23 lead into the break.
The Jaguars shot the ball well from behind the arc in the first half, draining 8-of-12 from deep (66.7 percent). In the second half however, the Jaguars went three-point range, going 0-for-9.
Grambling State exited the locker room with new energy, opening the period on a 19-5 run, cutting SU’s lead down to 43-42 with 12:00 to play.
GSU took its first lead of the game, 45-44, on a three-pointer from Tra’Michael Moton with 11:07 to go.
Both teams battled fiercely down the street, trading buckets back and forth. With the score tied 55-55 with 1:52 remaining, Antwan Burnett splashed a clutch three-pointer to put GSU ahead 58-55.
Moton followed that up with a steal and a layup, making it 60-55 with 1:15 to play. Grambling State clinched the game with free throws in the closing moments to preserve the win.
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Lady Tigers 59, Southern 57
In a stunning turn of events, the Grambling State Tigers secured a historic win against the Southern University Jaguars on their home court, marking their first road victory against Southern in seven years.
This exhilarating triumph not only breaks a long-standing drought but also extends Grambling’s impressive winning streak to six consecutive games.
The game showcased the Tigers’ exceptional teamwork and skill, with standout performances from key players including Zayla Tinner, Jordyn Carter, and Kahia Warmsley. Tinner led the scoring with 13 points, supported by Carter’s 12 points and Warmsley’s solid contributions with 10 points. The entire team displayed remarkable resilience and determination throughout the game, demonstrating their commitment to success.
The Tigers’ exceptional performance was reflected in their impressive shooting percentages, with 46.7% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. Additionally, their strong defensive efforts in the third quarter limited Southern’s scoring opportunities and ultimately secured the decisive victory.
Louisiana Tech remained perfect on the young season as Lane Burroughs and the Bulldogs swept a three-game series from defending MAC champion Kent State at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
Tech won by scores of 8-5, 10-2 and 13-2 as the Bulldogs improved to 7-0.
“We challenged them this week to get their edge back and play with a chip on their shoulder, and they did,” said Burroughs. “From an offensive standpoint, I could not be more proud of those guys. They were relentless the entire weekend, and we never let them up for air.”
For the second straight weekend the Bulldogs got solid work on the mound from its entire staff, limiting the Golden Flashes to only 11 hits in 27 innings. Tech pitchers struck out 26 and walked just 10 while recording a 3.00 earned run average for the series.
Through seven games, Tech’s staff boasts a 2.37 earned run average.
“I think the bullpen is the strength of our club,” said Burroughs. “The bullpen was phenomenal this weekend. The starters have been good. They have all pitched us into the fourth or fifth innings. We feel if they can do that then we have the bullets in the bullpen to navigate the rest of the game.
“We have two legitimate closers in (Ethan) Bates and (Sam) Broderson that can take it to the house. I tip my cap to our staff and Couper Fouts. They took their lumps last year and took some heat, but all they have done is gone to work to get better.”
Offensively, Tech recorded 38 hits and scored 32 runs over the weekend, including 12 doubles and six home runs. Cole McConnell’s return to the lineup paid dividends as he hit .308 with two doubles, two home runs and four RBI over the weekend.
Tech is hitting .289 as a team with 26 extra base hits and is averaging 8.0 runs a ballgame.
“We’ve came out, and we have swung the bats well,” said Burroughs. “We have had great at-bats all across the board.”
Tech will travel to Lake Charles to face McNeese Wednesday (6 p.m.) before heading to Sugarland, Texas, this weekend to face Army (Friday), Creighton (Saturday) and Air Force (Sunday).
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Softball
The Bulldogs took three out of four against Missouri State over the weekend at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
Head coach Josh Taylor and Co. got stellar pitching and used some late-inning heroics to capture the series against the Bears.
Tech (9-2) won by scores of 2-0 Friday, 3-2 in 11 innings in game two on Saturday and 7-3 on Sunday while dropping Saturday’s first game 7-5.
The Bulldog pitching staff allowed just nine earned runs over the 32 innings of action while limiting the Bears to a sub-.200 batting average. All six arms saw action over the weekend led by Allie Floyd (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 14 IP) and Brook Melnychuk (1-1, 1.36 ERA, 10.1 IP).
“I thought our staff continued to carry us this weekend,” said head coach Josh Taylor. “For the majority of the weekend, they really limited Missouri State’s scoring opportunities. We made a few mistakes behind them at times, but for the most part they were able to really limit any damage.”
Offensively, Tech recorded 36 hits in four games, including 10 extra base hits as the Bulldog hit over .300 as a team for the weekend. The only hiccup over the weekend was Tech stranding 33 runners on base.
Alexis Gilio (10-17, 4 runs, 3 RBI), Caroline Easom (7-14, 5 RBI, 2 GW RBI) and Alannah Rogers (4-9, 4 walks, 3 RBI) paced the Bulldogs at the plate over the weekend.
“Carol (Easom) had great at-bats this weekend,” said Taylor. “Alannah Rogers was phenomenal all weekend she had a big hit with the double in the fifth (Sunday). She was working the count full and getting into plus counts in every at-bat. She understands the strike zone. Gilio as well. Her stand and swing yesterday that resulted in a double led us to a win and today she was able to stand and swing and slap effectively. It was fun to watch.”
Easom had the game-tying, two-out RBI in the bottom of the 7th inning to send Game 2 on Saturday into extra innings and then had the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the 11th. Tech also scored 5 runs in the bottom of the fifth Sunday, four coming with two outs, to record the come-from-behind win.
Tech will travel to face Central Arkansas Wednesday before heading to Baton Rouge this weekend to face LSU, Illinois, San Diego State and McNeese State.
In a near four-hour marathon match between in-state rivals, Louisiana Tech was able to outduel Northwestern State on Sunday afternoon with a 4-3 victory at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
In doing so, LA Tech (8-4) won its first match over NSU (6-3) in Natchitoches since 2015 while also snapping the Lady Demons six-match winning streak.
“Today was a total team effort that came down to heart and grit,” said head coach Amy Sargeant. “This week, we took the opportunity to push hard, both physically and emotionally on and off the court. We are learning to adapt and adjust in pressure situations and play fearless tennis.”
The Bulldogs opened the day by claiming the doubles point, and that proved to be the difference maker as the two squads ended up splitting the six singles courts.
“Our doubles teams stepped up on all courts, playing aggressive, confident doubles,” said Sargeant. “And I was very impressed with how we responded after a slow start in singles, learning to love and embrace the battles.”
While Olga Bienzobas and Alexia Romero have been dominating in singles, the duo has also found their groove as a doubles unit. The tandem picked up their third straight win, taking a 6-3 victory on court one.
Sealing the opening point was their court neighbor, the new duo of Tiffani Nash and Valentina Vasquez who prevailed 6-4 on court two.
LA Tech upped its advantage to 2-0 with the completion of the first singles match and that was as a result of Bienzobas’ ninth straight win, disposing of Tjasa Klevisar by a score of 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1.
NSU battled back though, evening up the team match with straight set wins on courts six and three. However, Ana Rodrigues recovered from a lost first set to take the second set 6-0 against Paige Wise. The junior was up 2-1 in the third when her opponent retired.
The Lady Demons tied it up again, winning in three sets on court five, bringing the deciding point down to the No. 4 position which featured Tech’s Tiffani Nash versus NSU’s Sofia Garcia. After dropping the first set, 6-2, Nash rebounded to clinch the match, 6-3, 6-2.
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Track and Field
The Louisiana Tech track and field teams finished with their highest conference finish in eight years at the Conference USA Indoor Championships at the Liberty Indoor Track Complex on Saturday.
The men finished fifth with 70.5 points, their highest finish since 2016 (4th) and most points since 2014 (77.5). The women totaled 53 points to close out the meet in sixth, their highest finish and points since 2015 (5th, 54).
The Bulldogs closed the meet with six more podiums and another CUSA Champion, the first time since 2018 with multiple champions.
The school record holder in the high jump was looking to add more accolades during her freshman campaign. Williams finished with a height of 1.72m (5’7.5”), and she claimed bronze in her first CUSA meet.
Another freshman having a sensational year is Tonie-Ann Forbes. Breaking the school record in the 60mH in her last event, Forbes also claimed a bronze medal with a time of 8.25.
Rodney Heath Jr. and Julian Forde have been at the top of the conference rankings all season for the 60m, and they did not disappoint. Heath Jr. and Forde had a photo finish, with Heath Jr. taking silver at 6.716 and Forde only four-thousandths of a second at 6.720 to claim bronze.
The 4×400 teams finished the meet with the final two podiums. Jamara Patterson, Faith Tarver, Osaretin Usenbor, and Saran Kouyate teamed up to run a season-best 3:41.24 to win silver.
Laeden Tucker, Tim Rummelhagen, Phillip Gray Jr., and Valentino Rudolph left their mark with the second-fastest time in program history with 3:13.08. They claimed the first 4×400 title since 2014.
No. 18 seed Cedar Creek saw its season come to an end Friday night as the Cougars fell 75-37 to No. 15 seed Riverside Academy in the Select School Division IV playoffs.
The Cougars (12-14) fell behind double digits in the first quarter and were never able to make a run as Riverside advanced to play No. 2 seed St. Martin’s Episcopal in the second round this week.
Jake Doan led the Cougars with 15 points while Jack Bell added 10 points in the loss.
Riverside (8-16) led 23-8 after the first quarter and 37-17 at halftime en route to the 38-point win.
Despite coming up short in 10 of the last 12 games of the season, Cedar Creek head coach Lance Waldron said he felt the team made strides during the season.
“Based on our summer performance of going 0-16, we pinpointed three things we needed to work on,” said Waldron. “Toughness, shooting, and defense. I believe this team met the challenge of working on those things to insure that we had a successful season. The players worked extremely hard on becoming better shooters. Connor and Jake became sharper shooters that we leaned on the entire season.
“Our toughness improved greatly from the summer. Our players made great strides in the weight room after the summer and that continued all season. Our team defense has greatly improved relative to where we were after the summer. The improvements helped get us to a (12-14) record.”
The Cougars came into the year having to replace its entire starting lineup due to graduation, and Waldron said he was proud of how the players responded.
“Replacing all five starters from the previous year is not an easy task, but the guys this year bought in and worked hard on our three goals to set us up for future success,” said Waldron. “The future is very bright for Cedar Creek basketball.”
(Freshman Ahmad Hudson poured in 19 points in Ruston’s win. Photo by Kyle Roberts)
By Kyle Roberts
Twenty-fifth seeded Barbe High School had no answer for true freshman Ahmad Hudson for the No. 8 Ruston High Friday night after a 19-points, 14-rebound and six-block performance that led the Bearcats to a 62-34 win in Memorial Gym.
“He’s a special talent,” Ruston High head coach Ryan Bond said about Hudson. “The guys know how important he is– not only on the offensive end, but on the defensive end. I’ve said it before. We can get out there and we can pressure, and we know he’s going to clean up a lot.”
Hudson’s offense jumpstarted the Bearcats as he scored the team’s first six points. In the first quarter alone, Hudson had eights points, five rebounds and four blocked shots, helping keep the Buccaneer offense to a low-scoring five points in the first quarter.
The Bearcats would outscore the Buccaneers 14-8 in the second quarter to take a 31-13 lead into the halftime locker room.
“I’m happy that we won, but it was good, not great,” Bond said. “I think my it was a byproduct of being off for seven days or six days, and I think a part of it is that (Barbe) was a familiar opponent. We knew they’d graduated several kids. They’re a good little scrappy team. And we knew from watching film that they weren’t going to quit. They’re a younger bunch– we knew that we’re not going to stop playing.
“But I’m happy, but we’re going to have to pick it up for Tuesday night– whoever the opponent is down the road, it’s just going to get more and more difficult.”
Barbe would string together a 9-2 run in the third quarter to pull back to within 15 to trail Ruston 37-22, but it would not be nearly enough as Ruston hold on to get the blowout win.
Ruston would also get a 15-point performance from senior Trey Dimmer and a 10-point performance from senior Aidan Anding, who uncharacteristically did not have a made three-pointer all night.
“I wish we could clone Aiden on the defensive end,” Bond said. “We’ve got good defenders, but Aiden’s on another level, defensively. He’s playing at a really high level. He didn’t score a lot of points tonight like he did last Saturday, but he was awesome.”
The Bearcats will play No. 9 H. L. Bourgeois after their 67-64 win over No. 24 Central Lafourche, Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. in Memorial Gym.
Choudrant’s Carson Carrico is pictured celebrating as the final horn sounded Friday night to give the Aggies a 76-71 home playoff win over Reeves. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
He might only be a sophomore, but Choudrant guard Carson Carrico was THE MAN Friday night he led the Aggies to a big win in the opening round of the Division V Nonselect Schol boys basketball playoffs at the CHS gym
Carrico started strong and finished even stronger as 14th-seeded Choudrant rallied back in the fourth quarter to defeat 19th-seeded Reeves despite trailing by five points heading into the final eight minutes of play.
Reeves opened the contest with a 5-0 run in the first minute of the opening stanza before Carrico’s second 3-pointer and eighth point of the game tied things up at 8-8 midway through the quarter.
The teams traded leads of no more than two points until the Raiders went on a 12-0 run to close out the final four minutes of the first half to build a 46-34 advantage at halftime despite the fact that Carrico had already scored 17 points, with 15 coming off of 3-pointers.
“I’m not usually too emotional on halftime speeches but tonight I did get emotional just to challenge the team to keep playing, especially on defense,” Aggies coach Ryan Smith said. “It felt like we weren’t ourselves defensively tonight, especially in the first half. (The Raiders) did a great job of being active with their hands and making contact with the ball in the first half, so the message was two dibbles against the press, and pitch it off — if you go get the ball hard with two hands, I think we can win.
“Because that’s what they were relying on. We were being kind of soft with the ball. So we just kept going inside to (Aggies forward Mike Jones), and he was great. Just seeing how we could get it to him and draw attention with him and (Aggies forward Lawson Stevens) helped give us a lot of open shots. Tucker (Batteron) made a clutch 3-pointer, and Carson was just unbelievable.”
The Aggies slowly but surely pulled back into it in the third quarter, with four straight inside baskets by Jones cutting the Reeves’ lead to 48-45 at the 4:02 mark of the period.
But the Raiders picked their pace back up to close out the stanza, rebuilding a five-point lead at 59-54 heading into the fourth quarter.
A Batterton 3-pointer cut the Reeves’ lead to 59-57 only 25 seconds into the final stanza with a pair of baskets by Jones, tying things up at 61-61 with five minutes remaining.
Carrico was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 4:08 on the clock, but as he lofted his first free-throw shot, which bounced off the front of the rim, he went down clutching his right calf.
But he pulled himself up and hobbled back to the charity stripe and missed his second attempt before swishing his third shot through the net to give the Aggies their first lead since the 6:48 mark of the second quarter.
“The leg was still bothering me on those second two free throws but I kind of put my weight on my left leg on the last one,” Carrico said. “After that the other leg loosened up some down the stretch.”
Carrico’s performance didn’t surprise his head coach.
“As a sophomore, we’ve already seen that he thrives in moments like this,” Smith said about Carrico. “He wants the ball. He wants the moment. He;s not afraid and I’m just super glad he’s an Aggie. That was a huge game for him.
“When he cramped up the ref asked if we wanted to call a timeout and I looked at him and he said no. So he took the oth4re two shots before we gave him a quick breather (during which CHS assistant principal Geoffrey Underwood stretched out the cramp. Then Carson came back to the bench and told me he was ready and to put him back in.”
Reeves moved back on top 63-62 before Carrico launched another 3-pointer with 3:05 remaining.to give the Aggies a 65-63 advantage, but the Raiders tied it back up at 65-65 at the 2:35 mark of the final stanza.
A Jones layup and Stevens free throw pushed Choudrant back on top 68-65 with 2:08 left on the clock before another Raiders 3-pointer tied it up at 68-68 with 1:51 remaining.
But Carrico followed with his seventh trey of the contest to put the Aggies back on top, this time for good.
Choudrant closed things out with a short jumper by Stevens and three free throws by Carrico, with his final two free throws coming after the sophomore put the game away with a steal in the final 12 seconds of the contest.
Carrico finished with a career-best 32 points, including a 7-of-11 performance at the free-throw line.
“His intensity and willingness to fight is awesome,” Smith said about Carrico. I thought Mike and Lawson were great. Give credit to Reeves, because they hit some huge shots — some huge threes. Their coach does an awesome job there. It was a combination in the second half where we started finishing and (the Raiders) got a little cold shooting those big threes.”
Jones added 25 points for the Aggies, who also received 10 points from Batterton and six from Stevens.
“This one ranks up there big-win wise,” Smith said. “That was an unreal game until the end and I’m so proud of our kids and am so glad they got to experience something like this one. This is one they’ll remember the rest of their lives.”
