by Malcolm Butler
It’s been a while since Cedar Creek had both its boys and girls basketball teams playing at this caliber as both the Cougars and Lady Cougars prepare for the start of District 1-1A play soon.
Head coach Katie Hall and the Lady Cougars enter this Thursday night’s match-up against Class C power Summerfield with a 17-3 record and ranked No. 2 in the Select School Division IV power ratings.
Hall and Co. have posted wins over the likes of 4A Bastrop (13-4), 5A Northwood (9-8), 5A West Monroe (7-8), 5A Benton (17-7) and 4A West Ouachita (15-5), leading to a power rating of 41.78 which is more than two full points ahead of No. 3 JS Clark Academy in the power ratings. The Lady Cougars trail only defending state champion Southern Lab (45.83).
Creek’s three losses have come against 3A Sterlington (11-7), 5A Haughton (19-1) and 5A Airline (14-2) with all three games being competitive.
Creek returned a strong nucleus from last year’s state quarterfinal team that lost to Southern Lab in the playoffs, including the likes of Caroline James, Alivia Lee, Mallory Smith, Mary Grace Hawkins, and Zoey Venters who all saw significant minutes last season.
Combine that group with the emergence of transfers Avery Ryan and Taylor Martinez and the Lady Cougars have a talented corps that has shown the ability to win games in numerous ways.
Not only are the Lady Cougars talented but they play a team first brand of basketball. It’s no surprise to me as Hall – the former Lady Techster – learned under one of the best to ever coach the women’s game in Naismith Hall of Fame coach Leon Barmore.
As Creek prepares for district play, Arcadia (14-3, No. 1 in NonSelect Division IV) appears to be the main competition standing in the way of a possible district title. Plain Dealing’s record (7-10) isn’t eye-popping, but if you look at who they have lost to this year, it’s a Who’s Who of some of the top teams so the Lions can’t be overlooked.
On the boys side, the Cougars are 9-4 on the season and also currently ranked No. 2 in the Select School Division IV power ratings.
Head coach Lance Waldron’s team has a pair of wins over 4A West Ouachita (13-8) and quality power point wins over 2A Beekman Charter (10-4) and Class B Castor (12-4). Creek sits at 37.98 power points, nudging Southern Lab (37.70) and district foe Lincoln Prep (37.31) who are in third and fourth. The Cougars trail only Crescent City (41.15) in the power ratings.
Of the Cougars four losses, two are heartbreaking one-point setbacks against 5A Haughton (11-7) and the same Beekman Charter team they defeated on the road earlier in the season. The Cougars also dropped home games against two of the top teams in Class B in Quitman (17-2) and Simsboro (9-8).
The Cougars also return a strong core from last year, including Jack and Brett Bell, Jake Terry, Luke Waldron and Landon Hall, who all saw significant minutes last season. Junior Cameron Temple has replaced the graduated Connor Johnson at point guard and done a solid job running the position for the Cougars.
However, the biggest piece of the puzzle has been the addition of Ruston High transfer Cannon Robbins, who sat out last year due to LHSAA rules after moving across town. Robbins is arguably the most versatile and explosive player to wear a Creek uniform in the last two decades as proven by his 46-point outburst in the road win over Castor.
Lance Waldron’s up-tempo style of play has allowed this group to compete at a frenzied pace and on night’s where they share the basketball and commit to the defensive end, the Cougars have proven tough to beat. With a solid seven-man rotation, they will have a legitimate shot at competing for the district crown.
The aforementioned Lincoln Prep Panthers appear to be the toughest competition for the Cougars in the league, which is no surprise for head coach Antonio Hudson’s squad. Outside of Lincoln Prep and Cedar Creek, the rest of District 1-1A is a little harder to gauge without having seen them play.
Haynesville (5-0) is undefeated but has only played five games with just one of those coming against a team with a winning record (Darbonne Woods Charter, 12-5). Arcadia (6-3) is usually athletic and talented and their losses have come against the likes of Castor (12-4), Gibsland-Coleman (11-7) and Minden (12-10). The Hornets could be a tough out as well.
With district play starting in just over a week, area fans should make it a point to get out and watch both of the Cedar Creek hoops teams, whose next home games are January 21 vs Downsville. The district opener for both is January 24 at Glenbrook and the home district opener is January 28 vs. Ringgold.
With a strong district showing, both the Cougars and Lady Cougars have positioned themselves for a Top 4 seed in the Select School Division IV playoffs in February.
