By Malcolm Butler
Lincoln Prep senior Stephen Burks earned first team all-state honors on the Class 1A team as voted on by members of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Cedar Creek duo Leah Sutherland and Mallory Smith and Lincoln Prep’s Asijah Wright all earned honorable mention all-state honors on the girls side.
Burks led the Panthers to the District 2-1A title and a spot in the Select School Division IV playoffs where they advanced to the state semifinals.
He averaged 17.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for head coach Antonio Hudson’s squad as Lincoln Prep advanced all the way to Marsh Madness before falling 62-55 to eventual champion Crescent City.
Smith averaged 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game for Cedar Creek while Sutherland averaged 7.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.6 steals in helping lead the Lady Cougars to the Select School Division IV playoffs.
The duo were instrumental in the Lady Cougars winning a pair of playoff games out of the No. 9 seed spot before falling to eventual state champion Southern Lab in the state quarterfinals.
Wright was the ring leader for the Lady Panthers, averaging 11.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. She guided Lincoln Prep to its most successful girls season in years, including a spot in the Select School Division IV playoffs and an upset win over No. 13 seed Catholic Pointe Coupee in the first round of the playoffs.
BOYS FIRST TEAM
Jbari Adams Ringgold 6-5 Sr. 19.5
Stephen Burks Lincoln Prep 6-0 Sr. 17
Dwight Magee Crescent City 5-9 So. 29.3
Matthew Weaver St. Martin’s Episcopal 6-3 Sr. 21
D’Ray Vital Hamilton Christian 6-11 So. 15
BOYS SECOND TEAM
Benjamin Case Central Catholic 6-1 Jr. 22.1
Bryce Guillory Westminster 6-3 Sr. 20
Jovanni Perez Crescent City 6-1 Sr. 22.3
Ayden Warren St. Mary’s 5-11 Sr. 17.8
Leonard Hicks Thrive Academy 6-1 Sr. 23
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: DWIGHT MAGEE, CRESCENT CITY
COACH OF THE YEAR: BRANDON RUSS, CRESCENT CITY
Honorable mention: Mixon Bankston, St. Mary’s; Ben Bienvenu, St. Mary’s; Mikey Bougere, East Iberville; Damorion Burks, White Castle; Omarion Carr, Arcadia; Rodtravious Crawley, Arcadia; Spencer Dunn, Homer; Tate Hamby, Ouachita Christian; Jermarquis Hampton, Haynesville; Cameron Hardnett, Southern Lab; Garrett Humphery, Hamilton Christian; Jophie LaForge, St. Martin’s Episcopal; Cooper Odom, St. Martin’s Episcopal; Marc Perkins, Delta Charter; Parker Robinson, St. Frederick; McKennis Savoie, North Central; Isaiah Stevens, Crescent City; Bailey Streams, Covenant Christian; Roderick Tezeno, Opelousas Catholic; Nylan Williams, Central Catholic.
GIRLS FIRST TEAM
Rhianna Battles Northwood 5-5 Sr. 21
Kinsley James Southern Lab 5-9 Sr. 16
M’Kiyiah Olivier Highland Baptist 5-3 Sr. 27
Asia Patin Southern Lab 5-6 So. 16
Justice Young Arcadia 6-0 Sr. 12
GIRLS SECOND TEAM
Mckenzie Deville Hamilton Christian 5-2 Sr. 21
Cambrieion Link White Castle Jr. 5-4 24
NyAsia Moran Northwood-Lena 6-6 Sr. 14
Jade Oliney Central Catholic 5-6 Jr. 19
Kenzie Nino LaSalle 5-7 Sr. 17.2
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: RHIANNA BATTLES, NORTHWOOD
COACH OF THE YEAR: LAKINYA CURRY, ARCADIA
Honorable mention: DeAsia Alexander, Arcadia; Z’Riah Buggs, Homer; Sophie Burchard, East Beauregard; Maddie Carey, Covenant Christian; Avery Cournoyer, East Beauregard; Darcy Edgar, Ouachita Christian; Jordan Geason, Central Catholic; Lanetta Hill, Logansport; Alayna Knight, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; Garri Lawson, St. Martin’s Episcopal; Kelsey Robinson, White Castle; Mallory Smith, Cedar Creek; Leah Sutherland, Cedar Creek; Katee Woodward, Ouachita Christian; Asijah Wright, Lincoln Prep; Kali Shiver, Sacred Heart; Bre’Ardoin, Sacred Heart.
