By T. Scott Boatright
The Lincoln Preparatory School basketball team has quietly gotten off to a strong 4-1 start with their lone loss coming in the season opener at Neville.
On Tuesday night the Panthers used a strong second half to pull away for a 64-46 home win over D’Arbonne Woods.
Panthers coach Antonio Hudson is pleased with the way his team has played so far while also stressing it is still very early in the season.
“I think we’ve shown some good signs, but I also think we’ve shown that we still have a long way to go,” Hudson said. “Through these first games I think we can see what we can possibly be, but I think that we’ve got a long way to go.
“We’ve got to settle some things internally just as far as holding each other accountable, not only on and off the court but doing what we’re supposed to do during games. Doing it the way we’re supposed to do it.”
Senior Trey Spann has been the leading scorer for the Panthers so far and poured in 28 points while adding six rebounds, five assists and four steals in the win over D’Arbonne Woods.
“Trey and the rest of the team are coming into new roles,” Hudson said. “This year Trey will be asked to do more scoring, so he’s got that on his shoulders. He’s off to a pretty good start but has to keep working hard and pushing himself.”
The Panthers’ Devin Burton also scored in double figures in the win over the Timberwolves, totaling 10 points, four rebounds, three blocked shots, two assists and a steal.
“Devin Burton has been playing well,” Hudson said. “Zion Hicks has been playing well. But everybody has to get accustomed to those new roles.
“With us, it’s not about who puts the ball in the basket. We’ve got to make sure we find the right chemistry defensively as well.”
Jabari Levingston turned in a double-double against D’Arbonne Woods, scoring 10 points and dishing off 11 assists while adding three rebounds and three steals.
Levingston, a true freshman, has shown early signs of making an impact this season despite his youth.
“It’s his first year playing, he didn’t really play JV,” Hudson said of Levingston. “He played junior high basketball last year, so he’s got to get accustomed to the speed and physicality of the game on the high school level.
“He can play and has a chance to be special,” Hudson said. “But the younger kids still have to learn how to play. They’ve got to learn the pace. They’ve got to learn to let the game slow down. Right now (Levingston) is a freshman and playing against kids two or three years older than he is. He’s going to be really good for us in the future, but right now he’s still just working to find his way.”
Frediron Payne is a senior who has returned to the basketball court for the Panthers with hopes that his basketball bloodline — father Rico Payne starred at Dubach before becoming an NAIA standout at LSU-Shreveport and brother Fred Payne was a solid player for Hudson a few years ago — will help him become a vital part of the Panthers’ hoops dreams this season.
Payne totaled six points, four boards, four streaks and an assist in the win over D’Arbonne Woods.
“He’s been around basketball since he was born,” Hudson said. “I’ve known and taught him his entire life. He was at our school and during COVID when he was in ninth grade moved to Farmerville to be with his mom, but he’s back now.
“Once he gets in tune — he hasn’t played basketball for a couple of years — he can bring so much more to the table. He’s an older guy with a great IQ for the game because he’s been around the game for his entire life.”
Next up for the Panthers will be a game at Bastrop on Tuesday.
