Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech came into Saturday’s Conference USA Women’s Tennis Championship semifinals as a heavy underdog.

Their task was going up against top-seeded FIU who was ranked 27th in the country, on a 16-match winning streak, and playing on its home courts where they were a perfect 13-0.

Even so, the Bulldogs pushed the Panthers to the limit in a three-hour marathon in the blistering heat, falling 4-1 at the Pay Cargo Tennis Complex.

“The objective today was to dig deep and play from a place we had not done before,” said head coach Amy Sargeant. “Ultimately, we just ran out of time, but we gave ourselves chances to split sets on two singles courts while up on two others.”

“I am so, so proud of how much this team has grown throughout this season and how they have developed into strong, independent women. This year will be one for the memory books and we will return bigger and better next year.”

The fight was on display early on for LA Tech (15-9) as the Bulldogs found themselves down in doubles on all three courts. While FIU (18-2) pulled away on court one, LA Tech battled back on courts two and three.

Olga Bienzobas and Ana Rodrigues were down 1-4 but won three of the next four games to make it 4-5 at the No. 2 spot. Meanwhile the undefeated pairing of Alexia Romero and Zoie Epps were down 2-3 but won three of the next four games as well to go up 5-4 at No. 3. The Panthers would ultimately squeak out the doubles point on court two.

The fight continued in singles as five of the six lines were tight in the first set. The Panthers had a slight edge on five courts, winning by set scores of 7-5, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, and 6-1.

The one court FIU did not find any success was at the No. 6 position where fifth-year senior Alexia Romero steamrolled her opponent Petja Drame by a score of 6-2, 6-0 for her 54th career dual singles victory.

Despite the Panthers picking in straight-set wins on courts two and three to give them a 3-1 lead in the team match, the momentum was shifting in favor of LA Tech. Epps battled back to split sets with a 6-3 win in the second set on court five. Her court neighbor Tiffani Nash was grinding to force a third set as well, tied at 5-5 in the second.

Then there was Bienzobas who was matching Ekaterina Khairutdinova, who came into the day with only one loss all spring, point-for-point at No. 1. Bienzobas was close to splitting sets as well, up 5-3, but the senior ended up fall 5-7.

---

by Malcolm Butler

Brett Bell drove in Eli Slocum with the go-ahead run on an infield hit in the top of the seventh inning as the No. 17 seeded Cedar Creek Cougars defeated the No. 16 seeded Hanson Memorial Tigers 5-4 in the first round of the Select School Division IV playoffs.

Creek (16-18) trailed 3-0 after three and 4-2 after five innings before plating two runs in the sixth and the eventual game-winner in the seventh to give the Cougars their first playoff win since 2019.

“Heading into the to of the seventh, we came off the field and I said ‘Here we go boys,'” said head coach Chad Yates. “‘This is our game. This is what we are built for.’ (Trent) Franklin got on and made a good read on a ball in the dirt to get to second. We put in Eli Slocum to pinch run to give us a little more speed.

“Brett Bell got his second hit of the game on a ball up the middle. They tried to make a play on it on a throw to first base, and I was waving Eli around third the entire way. It would have taken a phenomenal play at first to get Brett and they weren’t able to make it. And Eli was able to score the go-ahead run.”

Kade Luker and Max Brister combined to allow just four runs — only one earned — on three hits in the road victory. Brister picked up the win and sealed the game by working a perfect bottom of the seventh inning, including a pair of strikeouts.

“It was one of those hot, humid days,” said Yates. “Luker went out and pitched well. He got into a bind in the third on his own accord … he threw the ball away and that gave them a little adrenaline. He battled though. He had a pick off at first base that he threw away too. But he battled and we came out of that inning just down 3-0.”

Cedar Creek loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning and plated its first run when Noah Durrett was hit by a pitch, forcing home Blake Wade to make it 3-1. Brett Bell then followed with a single to center field plating Franklin and cutting the deficit to 3-2.

“In the top of the fourth we were able to finally get to (Ethan) Judice, the (Louisiana) Tech commit,” said Yates. “We knew he had an electric arm. He can be a little erratic at times. He was good enough to hold us at bay, but then lost some control and we got some runs back. It got us back into the game right there.”

After the Tigers added a run in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly RBI, Cedar Creek responded in the top of the sixth to tie the game. However, it wouldn’t have been possible without the effort on the mound according to Yates.

“Luker continued to compete and he got us to where we could pass it off to Brister,” said Yates. “And he came in lights out. His slider was very effective. He really had there guys mixed up. He gave us a chance to win.”

Jackson Mock singled with one out in the sixth and then scored on Ladd Thompson’s double to centerfield. After a ground out that moved Thompson to third, Creek tied the game at 4-4 when Thompson scored on a passed ball.

Creek recorded eight hits in the game and also capitalized on six walks. The Cougars chased the Hanson Memorial ace in the fourth inning as Judice allowed two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out seven.

“We knew we would probably see Judice,” said Yates. “We had a game plan for him. We just wanted to compete at the plate and make him throw strikes. These guys know who they are. They are not going to quit. We found ourselves right in there. We got a big hit from Thompson. He is an excellent baseball player. He made a good ball in the dirt read and scored the tying run.”

Brister allowed one base runner in the bottom of the sixth but struck out a pair of Tigers hitters to put a zero on the scoreboard.

After Creek took the 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh, Brister retired three straight batters in the seventh to seal the win. Brister allowed just two hits in 2.2 innings while striking out four.

“Brister came in and shut the door in the seventh,” said Yates. “He didn’t give those guys a chance. I just can’t say enough about our guys. I am so proud of them.”

Cedar Creek will travel to face No. 1 seed Opelousas Catholic on Thursday at 4 p.m.

---

---

But the Tigers roared back in the top of the fifth inning to tie things up at 4-4 and set up a wild finish.

“We did a lot of things that we’re supposed to do, but I’m not sure if we could have played much worse for the first three or four innings,” Hiers said. “I guess it was just nerves, but we were able to hold ourselves together enough to give ourselves a chance to eventually get into a groove.”

That wild finish began with a  three-run double hit by Chris Harrell sparked a five-run surge in the top of the sixth inning to put the Tigers on top 9-4.

Hayden Rabo went the distance on the mound for Simsboro to earn the win, spreading out seven hits with four earned runs while walking five and striking out five Black Cats to complement a strong offensive performance in which he  went 3-of-4 at the plate with two runs batted in.

He also made the defensive play of the game as he sprinted toward third to make a backhand grab before twisting and firing the ball across his body to first base for the final out of the contest.

“He was uncharacteristically wild during the first part of the game,” Hiers said of Rabo’s performance. “I guess that just had to be nerves. But he made one heckuva play to end the game.

“Hayden was definitely the player of the game today. He had a big double to start the game for us and then hit the ball well through all seven innings.”

Simsboro’s Chris Harrell batted 3-of-4 with four RBIs to lead the Tigers at the plate.

“Chris had a three-run double in our big inning that became really big because it turned out that we needed those extra runs,” Hiers said. “He got a 3-2 breaking ball with the bases loaded, which you usually don’t see and smoked it into the right centerfield gap.

“I’m just extremely proud of all the kids. I’m just happy that for once one of these kinds of games fell on our side instead of the other side for a change.” 

Next up for the Tigers will be a game at top-seeded Pitkin next week.

“I told the kids they should feel no pressure because nobody is going to expect them to win,” Hiers said. “All they have to do is go down there and play and see what happens. If we get beat 10-0 or 1-0, either way no one expects us to win so we;ll be playing with house money.

“We’re just going to go down, have fun and see what happens.”

By T. Scott Boatright

Michael Jordan would have been proud of the Choudrant Lady Aggies Friday evening, even though things didn’t go their way.

A well-known quote from the basketball great was Jordan saying, “Sometimes things might not go your way, but the effort should be there every single night.”

The effort was there from start to finish on Friday for the Choudrant softball team, but momentum jumped on Stanley’s side from the Lady Panthers’ first at bat as they rolled to a 10-1 win over the Lady Aggies in second-round action of the Division V Nonselect School playoffs at the CHS softball field.

Stanley led off the game with a single before Choudrant pitcher Holly Bennett struck out the second batter she faced.

That brought up Stanley catcher Jade Jones, who promptly launched a towering two-run blast over the centerfield fence to put the Lady Panthers on top 2-0.

But that didn’t deter Choudrant’s effort.

The Lady Aggies made it a 2-1 game in the bottom half of the opening stanza as catcher Zoey Smith blasted a triple with two outs before scoring off an RBI-single from shortstop Addison Worley.

Unfortunately for Choudrant, the Lady Panthers were only just beginning their hit parade.

The way Stanley hit the ball on the night wasn’t a surprise for Choudrant coach Wayne Antley.

“We knew it was going to be a scoring game,” Antley said. “That’s what we talked about heading into the game. We hit some, but they made every defensive play. We didn’t play defensively, but they outhit us. We knew they were good, and they showed it.”

Those defensive plays included Stanley third baseman Riley Palmer instinctively reacting to somehow catch not one but two fireball line drives hit by Choudrant’s Bailey Grace Weaver that would have both been singles in most games.

The effort was there for the Lady Aggies. Things just didn’t go their way this time.

Stanley added two more runs in the top of the second inning off a two-RBI single from leadoff batter Madeline Castillo and then took firm control in the fourth inning, scoring three runs off of three hits to push the Lady Panthers out to a 7-1 lead.

The Lady Aggies added another run in the top of the fifth off a line drive drilled directly into Bennett’s left thigh as she went down in the circle.

But the Choudrant pitcher gamely continued pitching, only to have Jones send another towering two-run dinger over the centerfield fence.

Antley admitted he considered intentionally walking Jones for a second straight time before deciding to go ahead and have Bennett pitch to her.

“The first one not so much because we knew she was going to hit,” Antley said. “Then she got to us on that second one. We thought about pitching around her on the second one, but she can hit it anywhere close.”

Worley and Bennett switched positions at the top of the sixth inning, with Worley taking the circle and finishing with two strikeouts with one hit and three walks.

“We knew we were probably going to have to do that (make a pitching change) just to change the speed of the pitches because they’re such good hitters,” Antley said. “We knew that. We watched them play about five ballgames and knew what they had.”

Stanley finished with 12 hits while the Lady Aggies managed only four. 

“We  knew sooner or later they were going to get their timing (at the plate)  down,” Antley said. “But they hit all ballgame. You’ve got to give it to them.”

Smith led the Lady Aggies with a 2-of-2 performance at the plate, adding a single and a walk at the plate. 

“She’s a very consistent hitter,” Antley said of Smith. “But the thing that impressed me most was her last at bat. She could have gone out swinging but she took a walk. She did it for the team.”

The third-seeded Lady Aggies, who saw their season end with a record of 19-6, will lose only senior Piper Bowen and will return six current juniors for the 2025 season.

And Antley knows his team will come back with just as much effort for that campaign.

“We’re losing one starter, so we’ve got most of them coming back,” Antley said. “So next year, hopefully we’ll be ready.”

---

A Celebration of life for Joy Carol Maxwell Rowe, 74, of Ruston, LA will be held Friday, April 26, 2024 at 11:00 AM  at Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary in Ruston, LA.  Officiating the service will be Dr. Reggie Bridges and Rev. Dale Oden. Interment will follow in Kilpatrick Memorial Garden under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston.  A visitation will be held Friday from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary.                                                                            

Joy Carol was born October 8, 1949, in Springfield, MO and passed away on April 17, 2024.                  

She was an active member of Temple Baptist Church in Ruston; taught a Sunday School class for over 50 years-mostly in the Children’s Department; Preschool Director of Weeday; and Receptionist/ Education Assistant all at Temple Baptist Church.

Joy Carol was also a Preschool Teacher at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ruston, LA.  Wherever they lived, she was affiliated with being a secretary to the Music Depts, River Ministry, Preschool Directors, Associate Children’s Minister, Receptionist/Mission Assistance, etc. She loved directing children’s choirs and sang in Sanctuary Choirs.  Her favorite hobbies included crafting, refinishing furniture, playing piano, sewing, and family time. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert (Bob) and Virginia (Kitty) Shockley Maxwell; brother, David Robert Maxwell; grandparents, George and Ida (Kier) Maxwell; and Steven and Georgia (Williams) Shockley.

Joy Carol is survived by her husband, Keith B. Rowe; son, Kyle B. Rowe (Tanya) of Bixby, OK; daughter, Jennifer Brabham (David) of Ruston, LA; grandchildren, Konnor, Mia, and Levi Rowe all of Bixby, OK, Addaleigh Dolce of Houma, LA, Matthew, and Kylie Joy King of Ruston, LA; sister, Karyn Maxwell DeYoung (Steve) of Hawthorne, NY. and numerous nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Kyle Rowe, David Brabham, Konnor Rowe, Matthew King, and Frank Rowe.  Honorary pallbearers will be Kylie Joy King and Mia Rowe.

Joy Carol requested that all in attendance wear bright colors for her “Celebration of Life.”

---

Joy Carol Rowe 
October 8, 1949 – April 17, 2024 
Visitation: Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary, Friday, April 26, 2024, 9:30 am – 11:00 am 
Service: Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary, Friday, April 26, 2024, 11:00 am 
Cemetery: Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, Friday, April 26, 2024 

Archie Lee Skipper 
September 2, 1934 – April 18, 2024 

John Thomas James 
March 6, 1962 – April 16, 2024 

Tommie Jackson 
October 7, 1941 – April 14, 2024 

Shirley Mae Gipson 
Saturday 01/04/1947 — Saturday 04/06/2024  
Visitation: Friday 04/26/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Celebration of Life: Saturday 04/27/2024 11:00am, Life Church, 3000 South Vienna, Ruston 
Interment: Saturday 04/27/2024 Following Service, George Washington Carver Memorial Park, Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston 

---

by Malcolm Butler

Brett Bell drove in Eli Slocum with the go-ahead run on an infield hit in the top of the seventh inning as the No. 17 seeded Cedar Creek Cougars defeated the No. 16 seeded Hanson Memorial Tigers 5-4 in the first round of the Select School Division IV playoffs.

Creek (16-18) trailed 3-0 after three and 4-2 after five innings before plating two runs in the sixth and the eventual game-winner in the seventh to give the Cougars their first playoff win since 2019.

“Heading into the to of the seventh, we came off the field and I said ‘Here we go boys,'” said head coach Chad Yates. “‘This is our game. This is what we are built for.’ (Trent) Franklin got on and made a good read on a ball in the dirt to get to second. We put in Eli Slocum to pinch run to give us a little more speed.

“Brett Bell got his second hit of the game on a ball up the middle. They tried to make a play on it on a throw to first base, and I was waving Eli around third the entire way. It would have taken a phenomenal play at first to get Brett and they weren’t able to make it. And Eli was able to score the go-ahead run.”

Kade Luker and Max Brister combined to allow just four runs — only one earned — on three hits in the road victory. Brister picked up the win and sealed the game by working a perfect bottom of the seventh inning, including a pair of strikeouts.

“It was one of those hot, humid days,” said Yates. “Luker went out and pitched well. He got into a bind in the third on his own accord … he threw the ball away and that gave them a little adrenaline. He battled though. He had a pick off at first base that he threw away too. But he battled and we came out of that inning just down 3-0.”

Cedar Creek loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning and plated its first run when Noah Durrett was hit by a pitch, forcing home Blake Wade to make it 3-1. Brett Bell then followed with a single to center field plating Franklin and cutting the deficit to 3-2.

“In the top of the fourth we were able to finally get to (Ethan) Judice, the (Louisiana) Tech commit,” said Yates. “We knew he had an electric arm. He can be a little erratic at times. He was good enough to hold us at bay, but then lost some control and we got some runs back. It got us back into the game right there.”

After the Tigers added a run in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly RBI, Cedar Creek responded in the top of the sixth to tie the game. However, it wouldn’t have been possible without the effort on the mound according to Yates.

“Luker continued to compete and he got us to where we could pass it off to Brister,” said Yates. “And he came in lights out. His slider was very effective. He really had there guys mixed up. He gave us a chance to win.”

Jackson Mock singled with one out in the sixth and then scored on Ladd Thompson’s double to centerfield. After a ground out that moved Thompson to third, Creek tied the game at 4-4 when Thompson scored on a passed ball.

Creek recorded eight hits in the game and also capitalized on six walks. The Cougars chased the Hanson Memorial ace in the fourth inning as Judice allowed two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out seven.

“We knew we would probably see Judice,” said Yates. “We had a game plan for him. We just wanted to compete at the plate and make him throw strikes. These guys know who they are. They are not going to quit. We found ourselves right in there. We got a big hit from Thompson. He is an excellent baseball player. He made a good ball in the dirt read and scored the tying run.”

Brister allowed one base runner in the bottom of the sixth but struck out a pair of Tigers hitters to put a zero on the scoreboard.

After Creek took the 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh, Brister retired three straight batters in the seventh to seal the win. Brister allowed just two hits in 2.2 innings while striking out four.

“Brister came in and shut the door in the seventh,” said Yates. “He didn’t give those guys a chance. I just can’t say enough about our guys. I am so proud of them.”

Cedar Creek will travel to face No. 1 seed Opelousas Catholic. Game date and time are yet to be determined.

---

---

But the Tigers roared back in the top of the fifth inning to tie things up at 4-4 and set up a wild finish.

“We did a lot of things that we’re supposed to do, but I’m not sure if we could have played much worse for the first three or four innings,” Hiers said. “I guess it was just nerves, but we were able to hold ourselves together enough to give ourselves a chance to eventually get into a groove.”

That wild finish began with a  three-run double hit by Chris Harrell sparked a five-run surge in the top of the sixth inning to put the Tigers on top 9-4.

Hayden Rabo went the distance on the mound for Simsboro to earn the win, spreading out seven hits with four earned runs while walking five and striking out five Black Cats to complement a strong offensive performance in which he  went 3-of-4 at the plate with two runs batted in.

He also made the defensive play of the game as he sprinted toward third to make a backhand grab before twisting and firing the ball across his body to first base for the final out of the contest.

“He was uncharacteristically wild during the first part of the game,” Hiers said of Rabo’s performance. “I guess that just had to be nerves. But he made one heckuva play to end the game.

“Hayden was definitely the player of the game today. He had a big double to start the game for us and then hit the ball well through all seven innings.”

Simsboro’s Chris Harrell batted 3-of-4 with four RBIs to lead the Tigers at the plate.

“Chris had a three-run double in our big inning that became really big because it turned out that we needed those extra runs,” Hiers said. “He got a 3-2 breaking ball with the bases loaded, which you usually don’t see and smoked it into the right centerfield gap.

“I’m just extremely proud of all the kids. I’m just happy that for once one of these kinds of games fell on our side instead of the other side for a change.” 

Next up for the Tigers will be a game at top-seeded Pitkin next week.

“I told the kids they should feel no pressure because nobody is going to expect them to win,” Hiers said. “All they have to do is go down there and play and see what happens. If we get beat 10-0 or 1-0, either way no one expects us to win so we;ll be playing with house money.

“We’re just going to go down, have fun and see what happens.”

By T. Scott Boatright

Michael Jordan would have been proud of the Choudrant Lady Aggies Friday evening, even though things didn’t go their way.

A well-known quote from the basketball great was Jordan saying, “Sometimes things might not go your way, but the effort should be there every single night.”

The effort was there from start to finish on Friday for the Choudrant softball team, but momentum jumped on Stanley’s side from the Lady Panthers’ first at bat as they rolled to a 10-1 win over the Lady Aggies in second-round action of the Division V Nonselect School playoffs at the CHS softball field.

Stanley led off the game with a single before Choudrant pitcher Holly Bennett struck out the second batter she faced.

That brought up Stanley catcher Jade Jones, who promptly launched a towering two-run blast over the centerfield fence to put the Lady Panthers on top 2-0.

But that didn’t deter Choudrant’s effort.

The Lady Aggies made it a 2-1 game in the bottom half of the opening stanza as catcher Zoey Smith blasted a triple with two outs before scoring off an RBI-single from shortstop Addison Worley.

Unfortunately for Choudrant, the Lady Panthers were only just beginning their hit parade.

The way Stanley hit the ball on the night wasn’t a surprise for Choudrant coach Wayne Antley.

“We knew it was going to be a scoring game,” Antley said. “That’s what we talked about heading into the game. We hit some, but they made every defensive play. We didn’t play defensively, but they outhit us. We knew they were good, and they showed it.”

Those defensive plays included Stanley third baseman Riley Palmer instinctively reacting to somehow catch not one but two fireball line drives hit by Choudrant’s Bailey Grace Weaver that would have both been singles in most games.

The effort was there for the Lady Aggies. Things just didn’t go their way this time.

Stanley added two more runs in the top of the second inning off a two-RBI single from leadoff batter Madeline Castillo and then took firm control in the fourth inning, scoring three runs off of three hits to push the Lady Panthers out to a 7-1 lead.

The Lady Aggies added another run in the top of the fifth off a line drive drilled directly into Bennett’s left thigh as she went down in the circle.

But the Choudrant pitcher gamely continued pitching, only to have Jones send another towering two-run dinger over the centerfield fence.

Antley admitted he considered intentionally walking Jones for a second straight time before deciding to go ahead and have Bennett pitch to her.

“The first one not so much because we knew she was going to hit,” Antley said. “Then she got to us on that second one. We thought about pitching around her on the second one, but she can hit it anywhere close.”

Worley and Bennett switched positions at the top of the sixth inning, with Worley taking the circle and finishing with two strikeouts with one hit and three walks.

“We knew we were probably going to have to do that (make a pitching change) just to change the speed of the pitches because they’re such good hitters,” Antley said. “We knew that. We watched them play about five ballgames and knew what they had.”

Stanley finished with 12 hits while the Lady Aggies managed only four. 

“We  knew sooner or later they were going to get their timing (at the plate)  down,” Antley said. “But they hit all ballgame. You’ve got to give it to them.”

Smith led the Lady Aggies with a 2-of-2 performance at the plate, adding a single and a walk at the plate. 

“She’s a very consistent hitter,” Antley said of Smith. “But the thing that impressed me most was her last at bat. She could have gone out swinging but she took a walk. She did it for the team.”

The third-seeded Lady Aggies, who saw their season end with a record of 19-6, will lose only senior Piper Bowen and will return six current juniors for the 2025 season.

And Antley knows his team will come back with just as much effort for that campaign.

“We’re losing one starter, so we’ve got most of them coming back,” Antley said. “So next year, hopefully we’ll be ready.”

---

By Kyle Roberts

Seeing her students shine clearly puts Ruston High junior class counselor Diana Humphries in her element.

After after seeing Pre-ACT scoring by juniors Cedric Serio and Anhaar Wasi last year, she just knew that they had a shot to achieve the coveted 36 on the ACT.

Turns out she was absolutely right, as both Serio and Wasi hit perfection this year.

“After studying their academic files and seeing their Pre-ACT scores, I knew they had it in them,” Humphries said.

For Serio, it’s a relief to no longer have to worry about the test going into his senior year at Ruston High.

“It’s great to not have to think about that anymore,” Serio said. “I was prepared to take it several times, but then just having the score has paid off. It takes a lot of pressure off, and I don’t have to sit there worrying about it anymore.”

Wasi echoed Serio’s sentiments.

“I was more relieved when I saw my score than anything,” Wasi said. “It’s one major thing out of the way.”

Both students were quick to credit the school for preparing them to achieve the high score.

“This year, they’ve been focusing a lot on ACT scores, so we had stuff in every class and advisory,” Wasi said. “I think it helped me throughout the year to focus on what I got wrong and fix those things.”

Serio also gave some pretty simple advice for students that want to try for the 36: pay attention in class and focus.

“There was one day in English where I wasn’t fully paying attention to the passage, and it meant that I scored two points lower (on the Pre-ACT) as a whole,” Serio said. “It matters a lot.”

Humphries added how proud she was of the duo’s accomplishment and how they’ve handled themselves since getting their scores.

“It’s a joy to work with them,” Humphries said. “They have high expectations of themselves; they’re very humble young men and they don’t go around bragging about this. It’s just another day in their lives.”

Ruston High had one perfect score last year when then-junior Jodi Dunbar scored her 36. In the last seven years, five Bearcats have hit perfection.

---

By T. Scott Boatrigjht

Mike McGee, Chief Lending Officer for Louisiana National Bank, runs for life.

That’s not running for his life, but instead running to honor the life of a lost loved one.

And McGee got to make the most exciting run he’s ever made earlier this week as he competed in Monday’s Boston Marathon — all to honor his late son Will, who passed away at the age of 17 in 2002 at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, after a seven-month battle against liver cancer.

“He was diagnosed early in 2002 and passed away that September,” McGee said. “It was just one of those things where I couldn’t let his story end there. St. Jude does so much for so many people, and selfishly, his mother (McGee’s ex-wife Ora Lea McGee), his sister (Rachel Madden) and I just wanted to carry his name on. We didn’t want to just become kind of fading in the background, so we decided to start a foundation in his honor.”

And that’s how the Willpower Foundation came to be.

“It started out as just raising money to meet the fundraiser commitment for people who wanted to go into the cooperative to meet the fundraising commitment for the St. Jude Marathon,” McGee said. “It started out with four or five runners, and now we have 30 to 40 runners and another 40 to 50 who don’t run a lick but just want to help raise money for St. Jude. 

“All of it culminates in a fundraiser held each year in (the University of Louisiana-Monroe’s) Bayou Pointe. It’s all about raising money for St. Jude in honor of Will, and that’s why we’re called the Willpower Foundation.”

McGee has run what he termed “countless” marathons and multiple half-marathons before, but on Monday he took on the dream of every long distance runner — the Boston Marathon.

“From the spectator standpoint, there’s nothing that compares to it,” McGee said of running the Boston Marathon. “I’ve run the New York Marathon, and that’s considered one of the world’s majors. But Boston is probably the penultimate marathon because you have to qualify for it. And from a spectator standpoint, there’s nothing that really compares to it.

“My wife (Donna Donald McGee) is a strong runner and probably a better athlete than me. She didn’t run the marathon but probably nearly ran that distance cheering me on.” 

While McGee was just amazed seeing all that was happening around him as he ran, he was just as thrilled he was competing in what is considered the king of worldwide marathons.

“You have to run a qualifying marathon, which means that it has to be a Boston-approved course, and you have to run it in a certain time based on your age,” McGee said. “For someone my age — 61 — I would have to run a qualifying marathon in three hours and 50 minutes just to be able to submit an application to run the Boston Marathon. The older you are the more time you get, but it’s still a very difficult thing to qualify for.”

But McGee didn’t need to make a qualifying time, all because he was “running for life.”

“I’ve come really close, but in all transparency I didn’t this year because I was a St. Jude’s Hero Charity Runner,” he said. “I did get really close in 2009 when I ran the Las Vegas Marathon in 3:35, and my qualifying time that year had to be 3:30 based on my age. 

“That’s as close as I’ve ever gotten to truly qualifying.”

While McGee feels a need to run now, it wasn’t always that way.

“I started running after Will passed away,” McGee said. “I was not a runner in high school (McGee grew up in Greenville, Mississippi before moving to Louisiana before his senior year and graduating from West Monroe High School). In fact, I played a little college football (at Vanderbilt) and said I was never going to run again. And for many years I held true to that until Will passed away. 

“But after that, running just became a form of grief therapy. I don’t know how. It’s a God thing. It was a spiritual matter where I could still connect with Will and talk to him.”

And so, McGee’s run for life began.

“It started with asking myself if I could run a 5K, then it became a 10K. Once I got that, it became can you run a half marathon?,” McGee said. “Obviously it worked up to a marathon, and the first marathon I ever completed was the St. Jude Marathon in 2007. And it all became where I don’t feel complete without running. I ran a Marathon Monday but I got back home and ran some (Thursday) just because it becomes addictive.”

Just as addictive as a parent’s love for a child.

“After all these years, it’s still simply about talking to Will,” McGee said. “As I was running 26 miles on Monday, he and I carried on a lot of conversations.”

 McGee said anyone wishing to donate to the Willpower Foundation can do so online at willpoweronline.com or by searching social media for Willpower Foundation, Inc. 

“What we want to do is one day shut St. Jude Hospital down, meaning that all childhood cancers can be cured,” McGee said. 

---

Ruston Police arrested three individuals last Friday after responding to a report of a burglary in progress on Duque Drive.

At about 4:50 p.m., officers responded to an apartment on Duque Drive in southeast Ruston where they found four individuals inside. Angelique Newton, 37, of Ruston, initially provided a false name and date of birth. Once her identity was verified, police determined Newton was wanted on numerous warrants for failure to appear in court.

A second individual, Quintavius Graham, 29, of Ruston, was found to be wanted on a warrant for failure to appear in court.

---

Graham and Newton were arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. Graham was booked on a warrant for failure to appear in court on a theft by shoplifting charge. Bail was set at $1,000.

Newton was booked on bench warrants for failure to appear in court on charges of illegal possession of stolen things, no driver’s license, no seat belt, expired inspection sticker, switched license plates, distribution of Schedule II and Schedule III controlled substances, and disturbing the peace by fighting. She was also booked for resisting an officer by providing false information at the time of the investigation. Bail was set at $501,000, according to Newton’s booking record.

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. 

By Malcolm Butler

Ryan Ivey isn’t wasting time.

Just one month into his role as the new Director of Athletics and Vice President at Louisiana Tech, Ivey spent an hour Thursday night at the Davison Athletics Center having an open dialogue with about 40 fans on the subject of football tailgating.

It’s the first of what is expected to be many Tech Talks, where Ivey and the Tech Athletics administration gain feedback and open a direct line of communication on subjects that they feel are important to moving the game-day experience and other things forward.

“I thought we had great dialogue and great participation,” said Ivey. “People came with great ideas and were not afraid to share them and to bounce ideas off of each other. I thought the hour went by quickly and we got a lot of feedback and took a lot of notes. Hopefully, we will have the opportunity to put some of it into play.”

Ivey began Thursday night’s session introducing himself for the first time to many in the room. He explained his desire for the sessions to be beneficial to all parties and asked for direct feedback, in this case on the challenges that some fans have faced in home game-day tailgating.

Tech alum Mike Dupree who tailgates with a number of his old Sigma Nu fraternity brothers from the 1990s said he felt the opportunity to express his opinion and concern is a positive start.

“I think the big issue at Tech has always been communication, both with the fans and internally,” said Dupree. “I believe these meetings are a step in a very positive direction and really hope they turn out to be productive. I think Mr. Ivey seems very open to the input of the Tech Family and that’s refreshing.”

Many of the concerns verbalized on Thursday night were in regards to access, or lack thereof, to certain tailgating areas on home gamedays, price points for tailgating spots, lack of knowledge of open tailgating areas, the concern of lack of student participation in tailgating, and the desire for more green space for tailgating.

Ivey, who has yet to experience a home football game, encouraged transparency and directness throughout the session and asked follow up questions to gather even more insight.

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker has been around Louisiana Tech Athletics and involved in home football gamedays for decades and in many different roles. From a Tech Athletics Department employee to a business owner to the mayor of Ruston, Walker has seen plenty of things change over the years.

And although he understands that change can be difficult at times, he also believes Ivey’s open forum concept will provide a tremendous opportunity to engage with the Tech fans and learn from that side of the street.

“I think it is incredible for him to reach out to the stake holders to hear their thoughts,” said Walker. “It’s really easy sometimes for us in the job not to get input from the people who actually make things happen. I think its incredible. I think its speaks volumes about Ryan’s leadership style and abilities. I commend him and Dr. Henderson for their direction. To me it’s a whole new way of doing things, and I am very, very excited about the future.”

Ivey is scheduled to hold the next Tech Talk in Shreveport on Tuesday, April 23 at 6 p.m. at Freedom Fields in conjunction with the Red River Run-Through, an open football practice where fans can come watch Sonny Cumbie and Co. in action.

---

From now until Saturday, April 27, you can get 25 PERCENT OFF all in-stock items at the American Mattress Outlet locations in both Ruston and West Monroe by telling them you saw this ad in the Lincoln Parish Journal.

This is a paid advertorial

---

The Lincoln Parish Journal is providing our local schools an opportunity to submit nuggets from what’s going on at their respective schools in order to get more information out on its students, faculty and staff. The information below comes directly from those schools. Any school wishing to provide content each week can email to LPJNewsLA@gmail.com.

______________________________________

---

Lincoln Prep’s Gordan Ford, Executive Director, and Dr. Crystal Washington, Chief Academic Officer, have been selected as the 2024 Grambling State University Exemplary Service Award recipients for their support of literacy and for the preparation of students and teacher candidates.

The Annual Spring Reading Conference will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 4:30 PM in the Betty Smith Nursing Building on the campus of Grambling State University.

Congratulations to the following students for placing at the District Track Meet Today

 Long Jump -3rd place Maleah Freeman 

 Shot put- 1st place Shedreana Green 

 4×1 Relay- 3rd place Maleah Freeman, Cali Cotton, Asijah Wright, A’jah Salsberry 

 400m- 3rd place Trey Spann 

 200m- 3rd place Jahanee Phillips 

Panther Coaches:

Coach Domonique Hill

Coach Kaniya Dudley

Coach Chaunce Davison

Coach Johnson

Regionals will be held Monday, April 22nd.

Students of the Week (high school)

9^th Grade- C’Terryca Glover

10^th Grade- Sayla Minnifield

11^th Grade- Raven Burks

12^th Grade- Kwuntaevion Shine

The Lincoln Parish Journal is providing our local schools an opportunity to submit nuggets from what’s going on at their respective schools in order to get more information out on its students, faculty and staff. The information below comes directly from those schools. Any school wishing to provide content each week can email to LPJNewsLA@gmail.com.

_______________________________

AE Phillips Laboratory School

K/8th Buddy Reading – Our 8th graders are paired with a kindergarten partner, for a mentoring program, and have activities together throughout the school year.  Last Friday, our students read together.  Previously, they had a get-to-know-you popsicle date. 

1st Grade Bulldog Day – Mrs. Spillers’s class had a Bulldog Day last Friday.  Tech student athletes came to eat breakfast with students, and TechXXII also came to visit.  It was a day filled with “Tech-themed” fun.  This was a reward for their hard work fundraising for the recent Bullpup Boosterthon.  

Golf Team – preparing for the Front 9 North Louisiana Championship.  5 Bullpups qualified for the tournament this upcoming Thursday.

Dubach Elementary School

19 Students were recognized and rewarded for making Mastery or Advanced on the LEAP during the 2023 testing season, at the 2024 LEAP pep rally.

Logan Mack (DES 2023-2024 Student of the Year) was the first to sign her name on Hornet Hall. She earned all Advanced on her LEAP tests the 2022 & 2023 testing years. Students who score Mastery or Advanced get to sign.

_______________________________

Lincoln Prep Elementary School

Students of the Week

Pre-K- Princeton Dice

Kindergarten- Jewel Venzant

1^st Grade- London Williams

2^nd Grade- Tristin Smith

3^rd Grade- Morgan Wagner

4^th Grade- Deandre Hargrove

5^th Grade- Elias Gonzales

6^th Grade- Aliyah Jones

7^th Grade- Donterria Williams

8^th Grade- Jerin Jones

_______________________________

Ruston Elementary School

Ruston Elementary School is thankful for our partnership with Trinity Methodist Church in our newly formed Friday Reading Buddies. Volunteers come weekly to spend quality time with students reading books together. Both children and adults look forward to this time each week!  

_______________________________

Ruston Junior High

It was touring season @ Ruston Jr High School. The students from IAL spent the afternoon touring RJHS on Thursday and Friday of last week. The Rams received a snapshot of the upcoming school year.

To show appreciation to our fabulous support staff which includes our cafeteria workers, custodians, para-professionals, secretaries, and our nurse, RJHS students and faculty will honor them with a daily reminder of how much we appreciate them next week.

Ruston Jr High School is hosting a Career Fair on Friday, May 3rd.

Achievement Day is scheduled for Friday, May 10th to honor our students who are set apart in their academic accomplishments.

---

Often, we are judged by our shape.

Our brain comes pre-packaged with a confirmation bias that allows us to justify our own perceptions and beliefs as being accurate, realistic, and unbiased. Social psychologist Lee Ross calls this phenomenon “naïve realism,” the inescapable conviction that we perceive objects and events clearly, “as they really are.” It is this “naïve realism” that causes us to judge individuals based on their size and shape. If they are of a certain shape, we make judgments about the quality of their character based on our perception of their shape. Our perceptions and assumptions must be accurate, realistic, and unbiased because they are our perceptions.

People who are slim shaped are viewed as being active and bright. They might be judged as being quick, hardworking, and athletic. It could be true. It might not be true.

---

In our politically correct culture, one should not point out shapes or comment on them. Yet this happens all the time. There is much “body shaming” on the Internet which is really “size assumption shaming.” I am perpetually stunned by skinny people who are “body shamed” as being too fat.

In your mind there is a vision of the “perfect shape.” I hope your body self-image is a healthy one. Some of us have been judged by our shape. We even participate in self-talk based on what the culture teaches our shape means. I hope that no matter your shape you are taking care of your health.

And how do we talk about taking care of our health? Are you “in shape?” Currently, I am “out of shape.” I am working on “shaping up” so I can be “in shape.” 

My goal is to take on the shape of Jesus. I want my heart to be shaped like His heart so I will love like He loves. I want my eyes to see the world like His eyes. I want my hands to reach out like His hands. I want each day to reflect Jesus in my life rather than my own reflection. I have discovered that Jesus challenges my assumptions and transforms my perceptions.

How do you shape up?

My friend Monica is married to Lee. They have a nine-year-old son named Grisham. The other day Lee was teaching Grisham how to measure a piece of wood before cutting it. I hope Lee reminded his son of the aphorism, “measure twice and cut once.” Grisham patiently watched his dad measure and cut the wood. I forgot to ask if Grisham was allowed to solo on his own piece of wood. The young man did have a good time with his dad.

Grisham thanked his father for taking the time to teach him the valuable lesson about measuring wood before cutting it. It is a great story about a dad slowing down enough to take time to teach his son.

Nine-year-old Grisham said to his dad, “Thank you for showing me how to do that. I know you want me to grow up to be a well-rounded individual, even though right now I am just a chunky oval.”

Grisham knows at a deep place he, like all of us, is a work in progress. His shape is not in its final form nor is yours!

This is a paid advertorial

The Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana hosted its Second Annual Pickleball Tournament this past Saturday at Squire Creek.

A total of 80 players participated in the second annual fundraiser for the North Central Region of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana organization.

The event, presented by title sponsor Jonesboro State Bank, was a round-robin format with multiple divisions.

Patrick Drewett and Matt Tyler took home top prize in Men’s Intermediate Division and Brendan Walls and David Belgard won in Men’s Beginner Division.  In women’s doubles, Linda Causey and Tisdale McDonald won the Intermediate Division Division, Alexis Allen and Brooke Hughes won the Beginner Division.

In mixed doubles, Mitchell Best and Harleigh Price won the Intermediate Division, and Alexis Allen and Jordan Hollis won the Beginner Division.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana is a non-profit that focuses on providing a safe, supervised environment for where youth can develop into positive, productive members of society. The organization would like to express a sincere thanks to all those who sponsored and participated in this fundraiser.

TITLE SPONSOR

Jonesboro State Bank

LINE DRIVE SPONSORS

American Mattress

b1BANK

Enviro Rentals

Lincoln Builders

Mathis Construction

Mercy Medical

Northern Louisiana Medical Center

Squire Creek Country Club

Westrock

LOB SPONSORS

Burnham Construction

Crossmark Management

Hunt Guillot

LJ Haddox & Son

Peachtree Dental

RAW Law

Smith Law Office

DINK SPONSORS

AVL

Barksdale Credit Union

Beau Vines Steakhouse

Big Daddy Jigs

Century Next Mortgage

Danni Jones PT

DJ’s Health Outlook

Ensure Agency

Firm Foundations

Forest Haven

Gibsland Bank & Trust 

R T & F Construction

Johnson Physical Therapy 

Jim Taylor Ford & Rocketfast Carwash

Dr. & Mrs. Tiphanie Maxwell

Kyte Consulting 

LOTS

Louisiana Orchard Realty

Mark Johnson Plumbing

Murphy Brothers

New Beginnings

Oak Shore Accounting

Paradise Funeral Home 

Tammy Patterson (Vanquard Realty) 

The Children’s Shoppe

TLS

Trio’s

Union Parish Sheriff’s Office 

---

A man was arrested for drug possession and traffic charges after he was stopped by a Lincoln Parish deputy sheriff early last Friday morning for improper lane usage.

Lee C. Trahan, 34, of Ruston, was stopped on East Georgia Avenue about 2 a.m. last Friday morning. Trahan said the clutch on the pickup truck had been acting up and it was difficult for him to drive.

A records check showed the pickup did not have insurance and its inspection sticker expired in August 2023.

---

A search of the vehicle located several glass smoking pipes containing methamphetamine residue. There were also suspected methamphetamine crystals on the driver seat. Trahan said he had smoked methamphetamine about an hour earlier. Deputies also found a bottle containing quetiapine fumarate. The prescription label had been torn off and Trahan said he had found the pills.

Graham was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a legend drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, improper lane usage, no liability insurance, and expired inspection sticker.

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. 

Friday, April 19
10 a.m.: Groundbreaking for Power and Water District Facility of Downtown Ruston (300 E. Mississippi Ave.)
6 p.m.: GSU baseball
6 p.m.: LA Tech softball
7 p.m.: RCT presents “Steel Magnolias” (Dixie Theatre)

---

Saturday, April 20
USSSA Softball Tournament benefiting St. Jude (2001 Champions Way)
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Spring Master Gardeners Plant Sale (The Bridge Community Church, 2301 N. Trenton Street, Ruston)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market
10 a.m.: Pack the Park: Battle of the Bands (Railroad Park)
10 a.m. Book Signing by Shirley Wesselhoeft (Traded to the Enemy) and aviation art display by Tim Sherman at 5.11 by Karl Malone (until 6 p.m.)
2 p.m.: LA Tech softball
3 p.m.: GSU baseball
7 p.m.: RCT presents “Steel Magnolias” (Dixie Theatre)

Sunday, April 21
USSSA Softball Tournament benefiting St. Jude (2001 Champions Way)
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Weaving with Wisteria (Lincoln Parish Park)
Noon: LA Tech softball
1 p.m.: GSU baseball
2 p.m.: RCT presents “Steel Magnolias” (Dixie Theatre)

 

By T. Scott Boatrigjht

While sometimes maybe not spectacular, a win is always a thing of beauty in the eye of the beholder.

And that’s the way the Choudrant baseball team felt after the Aggies held on for a 7-3 win over Hackberry Thursday evening in opening round action of the Division IV Nonselect School baseball playoffs in a contest held on the Ruston High School baseball field.

The 15th-seeded Aggies built a 4-0 advantage through four innings of play, plating three runs in the bottom of the second stanza.

Designated hitter Wade Watson and rightfielder Austin Barmore led off the the second with a pair of  singles before Tucker Batterton drew a walk to load the bases. Jackson Pyle ripped a two-RBI down the right field line to put Choudrant up 2-0 before Colton Smith’s grounder to short pushed Batterton across the plate to give that Aggies that 3-0 lead.

The Aggies added another run in the fourth as TJ Smith blasted a fly wall to deep centerfield allowing the big man to chug around the bases for a triple before scoring off an error that allowed Cash Camp to safely reach first.

Choudrant pushed its lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning as Batterton reached first on a throwing error, Jackson Pyle safely bunted and Colton Smith reached first off another Hackberry error to load the base. Starting pitcher Eli Callendar was hit by a pitch to score Batterton.

Camp then chalked up his second hit of the contest with a two-RBI single that gave the Aggies a comfortable lead.

“Anytime you win a playoff game it’s good because there are no slouches in the playoffs,” said Choudrant coach Joel Antley. “And there’s a lot of pressure in a don’t-win-and-go home situation. I could see a little nerves in our younger guys, but our older guys have been there, done that. They know the situation.

“With Eli on the mound — he’s been solid for us all year long — I’ve got complete confidence when he’s out there.”

Callendar got off to a strong start on the mound, fanning seven batters and giving up only two hits in five innings before getting into a bit of a jam for a second straight inning, forcing Antley to make the decision to have Callendar and Colton Smith switch positions.

“I could have gotten him earlier — it was hot and his hand was sweating, ” Antley said about Callendar. “I thought about (making a pitching change) the inning before. Sometimes he gets off a little and comes back the next inning and gets back in the groove again. 

“But once he didn’t have control of some of his off-speed stuff I knew it was time to go get Colton. And there’s no reason why not. Colton is a great pitcher, too. I feel confident with him on the mound. Getting that lead early helped because it took the pressure off the guys and let them relax a little bit, too.”

Hackberry ended up pushing across three runs in the bottom of the sixth before Colton Smith and the Aggies retired the side for the Mustangs.

Barmore picked up his second hit of the contest in the bottom of the fifth, but the Aggies failed to add another run before Smith threw a three up, three down situation in the top of the seventh to end the contest.

Colton Smith finished with two strikeouts while giving up two hits in his two innings on the mound.

Barmore led the Aggies with a 3-of-4 batting performance while Camp and Pyle both went 2-4 with two runs batted in.

Watson also had a pair of hits in four at bats.

“We did OK at the plate,” Antley said. “We were a little out front of everything for a little while there. But our younger guys at the bottom of the lineup really came through for us.”

“We can score runs even though our leading hitter on the team isn’t lacing them in the gap. It takes everybody. It always takes everybody. Me along with every other coach says somebody’s got to step up. If somebody doesn’t have it, somebody (else) has to step up. It’s all about filling those holes. That’s what makes a good team.”

Next up for Choudrant will be a second round game against second-seeded Weston on Thursday.

Weston won the lone contest played against Choudrant this season by the score of 9-2 on March 20.

“We’ll have to play well going to play the No. 2 team in the state at their house,” Antley said. “”We’ll have to be on our ‘A’ game for sure.”

---

Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech men’s basketball head coach Talvin Hester added to his roster on Thursday with the signing of high school standout Clarence Payia.

Payia, a native of Beaumont, Texas, joins a 2024 recruiting class that includes Landren Blocker, Anthony “AJ” Bates Jr., and Albert “Al” Green.

“We are really excited to have Clarence join our program,” said Hester. “He has the ability to both create mismatches on the court with his size and stretch the floor. We can’t wait to get him on campus and get to work.”

The 6-foot-6, 180-pound combo guard played at Beaumont United where he helped the Timberwolves go 30-3 this past season, advancing to the Texas 6A state semifinals which was their fourth straight state tournament appearance.

Payia scored a game-high 21 points in a 49-48 victory over Clear Springs to reach the semifinals. He would scored a game-high 27 points in the narrow loss to Stony Point.

Ranked as the 12th-best player in the Greater Houston Area by RCS Sports, he earned TABC 6A All-State, TABC 6A All-Region, and UIL 6A All-Tournament Team honors as a senior.

---