I’ve had a lot of interesting experiences during the past 26 years of calling college games leading to a lifetime of memories.
None stranger than March 12, 2020.
I was still broadcasting Lady Techster basketball games back then and had just called No. 12 seed Louisiana Tech’s upset win a day earlier over No. 5 seed UAB in the opening round of the Conference USA Basketball Tournament at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Covid 19 had started to become a household term as the disease made its way to the United States a few months earlier. The night of March 11, media outlets were broadcasting how various sporting events were starting to be shut down.
NCAA conferences were hosting their annual tournaments across the country. The NBA season was in full swing.
The morning of March 12, I had already set up courtside preparing to go live on the air as the Lady Techsters were facing No. 4 seed Middle Tennessee.
Equipment was set up. Teams were warming up. The Tech Hoop Troop was already playing behind me.
Literally minutes before I was scheduled to go live on 97.7 FM with my 30-minute pregame show, a voice came over the public address at The Star announcing the tournament was canceled. Everyone was to immediately leave the arena.
The season was over. Not just in Frisco, but across our country.
In some ways that seems like forever ago. In some ways, just like yesterday.
And it was just the start of one of the strangest, and saddest, times of my lifetime.
Players were crying. Coaches were in shock. Heck, we all were. It was unprecedented … at least in my lifetime.
I remember going on air for like two minutes telling those tuned in for the pregame show the news. It was like an out-of-body experience.
As I packed up my radio equipment hurriedly, a text came across my phone from then-Tech AD Tommy McClelland informing our executive staff that we would be meeting back at the team hotel to discuss the news and what would follow, even though none of us had a clear idea.
Back at the team hotel, I passed our seniors in the lobby, their eyes bloodshot from crying. Their college careers were over just like that … without getting a chance to fight to the bitter end on the hardwood.
As I drove back to Ruston from Frisco in my Jeep, I was listening to the radio. Reports of everything from professional to collegiate athletics shutting down.
I had know idea what the next year to 18 months would hold for our country. No one did.
As I prepare to head to Huntsville, Alabama, this week for the CUSA hoops tournament, it’s hard to believe that was five full years ago.
Although I’m thankful that time has passed, and sorry for all of those who were so negatively impacted in much harsher ways than a game getting canceled, I won’t ever forget that morning at The Star.
The day a deadly disease had its first impact on my life, even if it was just on the hardwood.
Cedar Creek is well-represented on the all-District 1-1A team, although probably not as much as the Lady Cougars should be.
After posting a 29-4 record, including a perfect 7-0 record in district action, and advancing to the Select School Division IV title game against Southern Lab, Cedar Creek saw Katie Hall earn Coach of the Year award and junior Avery Ryan earn the MVP award.
However, Ryan was the lone Lady Cougar on the six-person first team with Arcadia boasting three, and Ringgold and Plain Dealing one each.
The Lady Cougars did have three second team all-district honorees, including senior Mallory Smith, junior Taylor Martinez and sophomore Alivia Lee. Caroline James and Mary Grace Hawkins also earned honorable mention honors.
On its way to a 7-0 record in district action, Cedar Creek boat-raced its competition, outside of a competitive 49-42 win over Arcadia (the Hornets advanced to the NonSelect School Division IV title game). The Lady Cougars won the other six district games by an average margin of 39.2 points with the closest contest being a 23-point win over Plain Dealing.
Creek won by scores of 53-13 over Glenbrook, 69-16 over Ringgold, 60-37 over Plain Dealing, 60-8 over Haynesville, 50-11 over Lincoln Prep, and 51-23 over Jonesboro-Hodge.
Ryan, named the Most Outstanding Player on this year’s all-Lincoln Parish Journal Team, averaged a double double this season for the Lady Cougars, including a 16-point, 19-rebound effort in the semifinal win over JS Clark Academy. She also registered a 12-points, 14-rebound performance in the state title game against Southern Lab.
“Avery is an impact player on both sides of the court,” said Hall. “Her defensive presence is so disruptive around the rim. Offensively she puts a lot of pressure on the rim when she runs the floor.”
1st Team
DeAsia Alexander (Arcadia)
Jayla Mendenhall (Arcadia)
Brianna Newton (Plain Dealing)
Lyric Reed (Ringgold)
Avery Ryan (Cedar Creek)
Arianna Williams (Arcadia)
2nd Team
Zaniyah Brown (Haynesville)
Tyya Davis (Jonesboro-Hodge)
Jalenya Jackson (Jonesboro-Hodge)
Alivia Lee (Cedar Creek)
Taylor Martinez (Cedar Creek)
Morgan McGee (Jonesboro-Hodge)
Mallory Smith (Cedar Creek)
Honorable Mention: Caroline James (Cedar Creek), Mary Grace Hawkins (Cedar Creek)
Simsboro eighth grader Dakota Powell headlined three Lady Tigers on the all-District 1B team, earning first team honors.
Powell joined teammates Jahkeria Abney (second team) and Tamia Graham (honorable mention) who also earned postseason accolades.
The Lady Tigers posted a 13-15 record this season, including a 4-4 mark in district action, and earned a spot in the Class B playoffs. Simsboro recorded a 7-game winning streak at one point in late November and early December.
Simsboro played tough schedule which includes games against Cedar Creek, Arcadia and Summerfield, three teams which advanced all the way to their respective state title games.
Below is the complete list of the 1B all-district honorees.
1st Team
Cali Deal (Quitman)
Briley Peterson (Weston)
Anna Leach (Quitman)
Dakota Powell (Simsboro)
Kaylie Ann Shirley (Castor)
Anslee Aldy (Weston)
2nd Team
Jaleigh Burns (Quitman)
Jenna Braggs (Castor)
Peyton Handy (Doyline)
Jahkeria Abney (Simsboro)
Carly Jo Griffin (Weston)
Honorable Mention: McKinsey Clark (Castor), Jaidyn Smith (Castor), Emma Walker (Quitman), Taylor Borland (Quitman), Tamia Graham (Simsboro), Ta’Kerria Washington (Doyline), Nadia Siadek (Weston), Carlynn Waters (Weston)
Brandy Roberson (left) and Reese Brown (right) took home the top honors on the All-District 2B team. (Photos courtesy of Snazzy Shenanigans Photography)
by Malcolm Butler
Brandy Roberson and Reese Brown earned the specialty honors on the 2024-25 All-District 2B team after the Lady Aggies captured the league title.
Roberson earned Coach of the Year honors while Brown was named the District 2B Most Valuable Player after guiding Choudrant to a 10-22 record and the Class B postseason.
The Lady Aggies posted an undefeated mark in District 2B play to capture the league title before falling 54-43 to Hathaway in the first round of the state playoffs.
Brown, a junior, averaged 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 2.0 assists in leading the Lady Aggies to wins in seven of their final 10 games of the season.
“Reese has grown a lot over the past two seasons,” said Roberson. “She works really hard, she is coachable and she is tough to guard. She puts in extra work and absolutely loves the game. I am excited to see what she will do next year as a senior. She is also a great kid.”
She was joined on the all-district first team by teammate Sadie Jones (9.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg), while Katherine Hernandez (8.6 ppg, 3.2 spg) and Hannah Bryan (8.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg) both earned second team accolades. Piper Jackson (2.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg) was named honorable mention.
1st Team
Reese Brown (Choudrant)
Sadie Jones (Choudrant)
Peyton Hales (Family Community Christian)
Rory Norwood (Family Community Christian)
Eden Miller (Downsville Charter)
2nd Team
Katherine Hernandez (Choudrant)
Hannah Bryan (Choudrant)
MJ Caldwell (Family Community Christian)
Brandi Adams (Forest)
Lauren Thompson (Forest)
Honorable Mention: Piper Jackson (Choudrant), Kylie Thompson (Forest), Brooke Mitchell (Downsville Charter), Amber Nappier (Downsville Charter), Jadyn Hutchinson (Family Community Christian), Ella Carroll (Family Community Christian)
Louisiana Tech totaled five Conference USA postseason awards on Monday, headlined by Daniel Batcho who was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year in a vote by league head coaches, SIDs, and media members.
Batcho was also named First Team All-CUSA and a member of the CUSA All-Defensive Team, earning both honors for the second straight season. Also receiving accolades were Sean Newman Jr. who was selected Third Team All-CUSA and Amaree Abram who earned All-CUSA Honorable Mention.
The power forward, who was a First Team selection and Newcomer of the Year last season in the league, led the Bulldogs and ranked sixth in the conference in scoring at 16.9 points per game. He scored in double figures in 27 of the 31 games played including eight 20+ scoring performances. His best effort was a 38-point performance in a non-conference game, the most scored by an CUSA player this season and the most by a Bulldog since 2016.
The Paris, France native currently ranks second in the country in field goal percentage (68.7), a mark that would set a new program record and be the third-best FG% for a single season in CUSA history.
For the season, Batcho also ranked sixth in the league in rebounds per game (6.6) and first in blocks per game (2.0). He currently ranks top 30 in the country in both blocks per game and total rejections with 62, becoming just the fourth Bulldog in program history to have back-to-back seasons of 60+ blocks.
Batcho is one of only three players in the nation averaging at least 16 points, six rebounds, and two blocks per game this season. He tallied six double-doubles, including three games of 24+ points and 10+ rebounds.
One of the best passers in college basketball, Newman Jr. became a two-time All-CUSA selection after earning Honorable Mention honors last season. The point guard currently ranks first in CUSA and top five in the country in both total assists (238) and assists per game (7.9). His 238 assists ranks third in program history and fifth in CUSA history.
The Los Angeles, California native has dished out 10+ assists seven times and 5+ assists in 28 of his 30 games played. During non-conference play, he set the program and CUSA record for most assists in a single game with 20.
The pass-first guard can also score it, having averaged 9.9 points per game with 15 double-digit scoring performances. He recorded a career-high 27 points in LA Tech’s conference victory over Liberty. He is also second in the league in free throw percentage at 83.3 percent.
Abram has played and started in all 31 games for the Bulldogs. The Georgia Tech transfer ranks second on the team and 16th in CUSA in points per game (12.3) this season, having registered double-digit points in 22 contests including three 20+ scoring performances. Two of those came during league action, posting 20 points at FIU and 21 points at WKU.
The lefty sharpshooter from Port Arthur, Texas anchors the Bulldogs with 66 made three-pointers, tied for the ninth most in the league and four shy of cracking the top 10 in program history, while shooting 37.7 percent from deep.
Abram also ranks tied for sixth in the conference in total steals (46) and steals per game (1.5), both of which are team highs. He registered at least one steal in 23 games played.
Paris Bradley (left) and Jordan Marshall earned spots on the CUSA All-Freshman Team while Bradley took home the FOY award.
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Paris Bradley was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year along with First Team All-Conference and All-Freshman, while Jordan Marshall was named to the All-Freshman team, announced by the league on Monday.
Bradley is the first Lady Techster to win a conference Freshman of the Year since Erica Taylor won in 2001-02, Tech’s first season in the Western Athletic Conference.
The eight-time Freshman of the Week is having one of the best freshman seasons by a Techster since the 90s. Bradley’s 420 points are just eight behind Tamicha Jackson and her 86 assists are one behind Amber Dixon for the 10th most. Her seven 20-point performances are tied with Janice Lawrence for the sixth most by a freshman in program history. Her four straight 20+ games are the most since Pam Kelly had four in 1978-79 and only behind Belinda Jones’s nine in a row during the 1974-75 season.
On the season, Bradley ranks in the top 10 in CUSA in ppg (14.5, 3rd), FG percentage (50.3, 5th), FT percentage (87.1, 2nd), 3s per game (1.7, 9th), 3s (30, 8th), apg (3.2, 6th) and assists (57, 6th). The 5-9 guard has 11 games with five or more rebounds and eight games of 5+ assists.
Marshall has been one of the best on the glass all season long. Her 246 rebounds tie Angela Turner for the 10th most by a Lady Techster freshman and rank in the top 100 in the country, third among freshmen. Her 8.5 boards a game are the fourth most in CUSA and the third most among freshmen in the nation.
The 6-0 forward has nine double-doubles on the season, the second most by a freshman in the country and the most by a Lady Techster freshman since Elinor Griffin had 19 in 1976-77.
Marshall is third on the team with 11.3 points per game. She has 19 double-figure scoring games and nine with 10 or more rebounds.
Louisiana Tech student-athletes continued their strong performance in the classroom, boasting a 3.213 grade point average for the winter quarter term. The Bulldogs and Lady Techsters have now recorded a GPA of at least 3.20 for both terms in the 2024-25 academic year.
Ten of the 14 LA Tech rosters recorded a GPA of at least 3.00, led by the bowling program which had a 3.674 GPA. The soccer program was not far behind with a 3.623 while the women’s basketball program registered a 3.540 GPA, their second highest on record.
Some of the other programs registering the highest term GPAs for the winter quarter were tennis (3.523), women’s cross country (3.465), and softball (3.449).
A total of 186 Bulldogs and Lady Techsters achieved the AD Honor Roll (term GPA of 3.00 and above) with 133 of those earning academic honors. A total of 91 student-athletes made the Dean’s List (3.5-3.85 GPA) and 42 made the President’s List (3.85+ GPA).
There were 11 student-athletes who earned degrees this winter including Brett Canis (Football), Donajz Dunn (Football), Ryan Harland (Baseball), Michael Ballard (Baseball), Will Safford (Baseball), Evelyn Goetz (Women’s Basketball), Avery Kyle (Soccer), Jordan Porter (Soccer), Urijah Williams (Men’s Track and Field), Quoi Ellis (Men’s Track and Field), and Lauren Albrecht (Volleyball).
The following is a list of student-athletes (47) who earned a perfect 4.00 GPA for the winter quarter:
Funeral services for Martha Mae Bailey Smith, 80, of Ruston, will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025, 10:00 am at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Jonesboro, LA. Interment to follow at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston. Officiating the service will be Dr Reggie Bridges and Rev. Chris Lee. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Temple Baptist Church Chapel in Ruston, LA.
“Well done, good and faithful servant” – Matthew 25:23
Martha Mae Bailey Smith passed away peacefully on March 6, 2025, at the age of 80 in Ruston, Louisiana. Many knew her as Martha, but those who loved her most called her “Honey.” A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, she was a woman of unwavering faith, boundless love, and a heart that always put family first.
Martha, daughter of Clyde and Ella Mae Bailey, was born on November 29, 1944, in West Monroe, Louisiana. Martha was the fourth of six siblings: Margie Henson, Jimmy Bailey, Daniel Bailey, Dean Bailey, and Ruth Dowdy – all of whom appreciated her decisive nature and determined spirit.
Following high school, Martha moved to New Orleans to attend Linda Brooks Beauty College. While a student, she commuted to her job at Holmes Department Store on Canal Street by trolley and frequently appeared on the Second Cup morning show to model hats, hairstyles, and clothing. Following two years of a long-distance relationship, Bobby, her high school sweetheart, traveled to New Orleans to collect Martha and her many things. They were married shortly thereafter and established roots in Chatham, Louisiana, growing their family to four with the births of Gail and Kristi. Martha curated a beautiful home and life for her family while managing the bookwork for the family’s businesses, Smith Timber Company and Bobby Smith Farm. For over four decades, Martha and Bobby were devoted members of Ebenezer Baptist Church and served in various capacities during that time.
Martha was fearless and determined. No task was too great – whether it was sewing curtains she had seen in a picture, cutting and installing her crown molding, or laying a brick paver floor in a herringbone pattern with a soldier row, she was not discouraged. Martha also had the heart of a servant; this was evident in the way she lovingly cared for others and trusted in the promises of the Lord for her life. Martha and Bobby shared a beautiful marriage until his passing in 2015. Though she mourned his loss, she carried on with grace and strength, always ensuring that her family and faith remained the center of her world.
After Bobby’s passing, Martha built a home in the Woodstone neighborhood of Ruston to be near her girls and grandchildren. Much to Martha’s delight, this relocation launched many dear friendships that she deeply treasured. Martha attended Temple Baptist Church and was active in the choir and the Glenda White-Love Sunday School class.
Martha never missed a moment to celebrate her loved ones, especially her cherished grandchildren. Whether it was a ball game, dance recital, or any of their many milestones, she was always there – cheering the loudest, offering the warmest hugs and a sharp sense of humor. Her love was steady, her presence constant, and her wisdom offered through daily group texts was a guiding light to her “grands.” A woman of profound faith, Martha was always giving of her time, resources, and love. The recent arrival of her great-granddaughter, Margot, brought her tremendous joy; friends who came to visit were invariably greeted with pictures and videos of Margot’s latest adventures.
Martha is preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Ella Mae Bailey; sister, Margie Henson; brother Daniel Bailey; father- and mother-in-law, M.J. Smith and Pauline Smith; brothers-in-law, James Marshall Smith and Paul Smith; sister-in-law Elaine Bailey; and husband Bobby Smith.
Martha is survived by two adoring daughters, Gail VanDenLangenberg (Gene) and Kristi Tollett (Roland); four grandchildren, Adam VanDenLangenberg (Elizabeth), Mark VanDenLangenberg (Emily), Anna Katherine Spence (Hyder), and Jon Robert Tollett; great-granddaughter Margot VanDenLangenberg; brothers Jimmy Bailey and Dean Bailey (Shelley); and sister Ruth Dowdy (Wayne). Martha’s family will forever treasure the memories of her generous spirit, unabating support, and resolute love. Though she has left this earthly home to be with her Savior, Martha’s legacy of faith, love, and family devotion will continue to shine through the generations she so dearly and deeply loved.
Pallbearers will be Gene VanDenLangenberg, Roland Tollett, Adam VanDenLangenberg, Mark VanDenLangenberg, Jon Robert Tollett, and Hyder Spence. Honorary pallbearers will be Gaston Gonzalez and John Paul Gonzalez.
In lieu of flowers, Martha’s family is requesting that memorials be made to Temple Baptist Church of Ruston and Ebenezer Baptist Church of Jonesboro.
Rest in peace, dear Honey. You were the heart of our family, and your love will forever be our greatest gift. Your faith has become sight, and your joy is now complete in the presence of our Lord.
Martha Bailey Smith November 29, 1944 – March 6, 2025 Visitation: Temple Baptist Church Chapel, Thursday, March 13, 2025, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Service: Ebenezer Baptist Church, Friday, March 14, 2025, 10:00 am
Mary Morris Williams July 23, 1958 – March 7, 2025 Funeral Service: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Cemetery Committal, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 11:30 AM, Walnut Creek Cemetery, 705 Walnut Creek, Church Road, Simsboro
Delta Biscuit Company will soon occupy the historic Federal Building in downtown Ruston.
by Malcolm Butler
It’s been almost a year since the announcement came that the old Federal Building in downtown Ruston would soon house a locally owned restaurant.
In early April of 2024, Ruston mayor Ronny Walker reported that Oliver Road Investments, LLC out of Monroe was purchasing the space.
Oliver Road Investments, LLC purchased the approximately 38,000-square foot building for $210,000. The Federal Building was appraised at $230,000, but the city offered the special rate in light of the 40-plus jobs the new restaurant plans to create.
Soon thereafter, Jonathan Joseph — owner of Delta Biscuit Company — confirmed plans of bringing a restaurant to the space and that Delta Biscuit Company was at the top of the list.
Since that announcement, Ruston and Lincoln Parish residents have been asking about a timeline for the opening of the highly popular easting establishment.
“We are still thinking Delta Biscuit Company up top on the main floor,” said Joseph late last week. “We are still working through designs and things like that. We are thinking through a different concepts downstairs. We are not all the way through that yet.
“It’s just an empty limestone shell right now.”
Joseph said that every step of the process from the exterior concept to the interior plans are having to be approved by both the state of Louisiana and National Parks. His goal for the final appearance of the building is taking it all the way back to its original form.
“Because it’s a historic building, we are working with National Parks and the state of Louisiana,” said Joseph. “We gave them a proposal. The first thing we had to do was lockdown the outside, the exterior of the building. Make sure it was safe. Make sure it wasn’t leaking. They approved that pretty quickly.
Joseph said that a new slate roof has been put on the building along with some other work to the exterior.
He said the second part of the approval process was geared towards the interior of the building, something that was just approved Wednesday by National Parks.
“What is the inside going to look like, some of the details and the windows and things like that,” said Joseph. “We are trying to bring back (the look) of the original post office.”
So what is the timeline for Delta Biscuit Company being open and operational?
“I’d love it to be second half or last bit of (this) year,” said Joseph. “I think it will take seven or eight months to build. Maybe a little longer, or maybe a little shorter. We are hoping we will be ready to rock say by this winter.”
Joseph did expound on the possibilities for the bottom half of the building, saying it could be more of an open meeting space for the community.
“We are thinking through concepts,” said Joseph. “I am thinking it will be something food related as well. One of the things we learned from talking to people is that they wanted places to get together. One of the things we know we want to have downstairs is have a big open space where you could have large parties or get togethers with a church group, that kind of thing.
“They could have Delta Biscuit in those rooms, or if we have a second concept, we could probably leverage that. So yes. I think it will be something food related, and we are just playing around with some concepts. But it will be a space for the community.”
Avery Ryan had a double double in the state title game matchup with Southern Lab. (photo by Josh McDaniel)
By T. Scott Boatright
HAMMOND — The Lady Cougars fought from start to finish and had their chances late in the game.
But it wasn’t meant to be Saturday afternoon as top-seeded Southern Lab outlasted second-seeded Cedar Creek 67-57 in the championship game of the LHSAA Girls Division IV Select School playoffs inside Southeastern Louisiana’s University Center.
It’s the second straight state title for Southern Lab, which defeated Cedar Creek in the quarterfinals round of last year’s contest.
That game wasn’t close. But Saturday’s contest was an entirely different story — a thriller that kept Cougar fans hoping until the game’s final minute.
Cedar Creek came out firing on all cylinders to open the contest, going on a 7-1 run in the first 2:01 of play.
“That was our game plan — starting strong,” said Cedar Creek coach Katie Hall. “I didn’t know what their thoughts on us were going into the game, but they have had a lot of blowout wins. They blew us out last year.
“But we’re a different team than we were last year mentally, and I loved our chances. We believed the whole time. We believed leading up to this championship game. I think that’s why I’m so disappointed, because of how much I believe in our girls and this team. We were ready.”
But the Lady Cougars had already turned the ball over five times in the first three minutes in the first three minutes, something that would foreshadow how the game’s outcome would go, as Southern Lab committed only 13 turnovers on the day compared to 23 for Cedar Creek.
Cedar Creek led the entire first quarter, with Avery Ryan hitting the opening basket of the contest and Mary Grace Hawkins sinking a 3-pointer with 58 seconds on the clock that gave the Lady Cougars a 15-12 advantage heading into the second quarter.
Southern Lab opened the second quarter with a 4-0 run that gave the Kittens their first lead of the game at 16-15 42 seconds into the stanza, but Cedar Creek rebounded with a 5-0 run of its own.
The game was tied at 25-25 with 2:40 left in the first half, but Southern Lab closed out strong thanks to Kori Wesley nailing back-to-back 3-pointers.
Ryan hit the first of two free throw attempts with 19 seconds that cut the Lady Kittens’ lead to 31-26 heading into the locker rooms at halftime.
“That was huge,” Hall said of Wesley’s back-to-back treys in the final 1:28 of the first half. “It’s one of those things where we were just trying to pick our poison just trying to keep (the Lady Kittens) out of the paint because they’re so good at getting in the lane and either dishing off or finishing around the rim.
“So that was one of our gameplans going in — make them try the outside shots. But we also knew who their key shooters were, with (Wesley) being one of them. Once she hit those two we knew we had to get a little closer and close the gap on her. But those two shots were pretty big daggers.”
Southern Lab controlled the early part of the third quarter before the Lady Cougars went on a 6-0 run that cut the Lady Kittens’ lead to 40-36.
But momentum soon bounced the other way as Southern Lab closed out the quarter with a 12-2 run to build a 52-38 advantage heading into the final stanza.
The Kittens led 62-53 after a Forman layup with 2:35 remaining, but that was in the midst of a 10-2 run that helped the Lady Cougars cut the Southern Lab lead to five points at 62-57 with 1:55 on the clock.
Hawkins’ spinning layup followed by Taylor Martinez taking it to the basket were the final two baskets of Cedar Creek’s run before Southern Lab’s Clark stopped and popped a short jumper in the lane to push the Kittens’ lead back to seven at 64-57 with 1:29 remaining.
“We called a timeout and I told them they had four minutes left to do a little gut check and put everything on the line,” Hall said. “We changed up our defense to apply more pressure and that gave us a little boost of energy and showed the girls they still had a little gas left in the tank.”
Cedar Creek had one final chance after the Kittens committed an over and back turnover with 46.5 seconds left on the clock.
But the late comeback wasn’t meant to be this time.
“Unfortunately they hit a couple of easy baskets where the 50-50 ball went their way and then we missed a layup,” Hall said. “I think that if that could have swung things and given us a chance (to pull off the late win). But I was proud of our effort in not quitting.”
Cedar Creek had one final chance after the Kittens committed an over and back turnover with 46.5 seconds left on the clock.
Martinez led Cedar Creek’s balanced offensive attack with 13 points with Ryan and Alivia Lee chipping in with 12 points each and Caroline James and Hawkins both adding 10 points.
“She’s a clutch player for me,” Hall said about Martinez’ performance. “No moment is too big for her. I know she had a tall task with the defenders on her like they were. That’s hard. I experienced that as a point guard. She may have nightmares about that tonight, because (Southern Lab) is a good defensive team and they focused on her.”
In the end, that 23-13 turnover margin proved to be one of the biggest factors in the game’s outcome.
“That was one of our keys — I knew that if we could keep the turnovers down we would have a chance,” Hall said. “I figured that the total number of turnovers committed by the end of the game would determine whether it was going to be a win or loss.
“I’m proud of this team. I’m proud of their effort. But I’m still disappointed because we had a chance. It just didn’t happen.”
An early morning traffic stop last week led to the arrest of two people and the seizure of various narcotics.
Keith Cortez Moore, 34, and Mandie Marie Eiskina, 40, both of Ruston, were arrested on several drug charges after their vehicle was stopped for improper lights about 3 a.m. Feb. 28.
A Lincoln Parish deputy spotted the vehicle on Tech Drive in Ruston with only one operable headlight and no license plate lights. Moore was identified as the driver with Eiskina as a passenger.
Eiskina was seen attempting to conceal a large orange pill bottle which clearly contained suspected marijuana. She was removed from the vehicle and detained.
Moore deputies there was a warrant for his arrest, and he was also removed from the vehicle. When he stepped out, a deputy saw a glass smoking pipe used to consume narcotics in the vehicle.
During a search of the vehicle, the smoking pipe, a bag of suspected methamphetamine, a case containing a syringe, Xanax, Vyvanse and promethazine was found on the floorboard where Moore was sitting.
In the passenger floorboard where Eiskina was seated, a large plastic baggie containing approximately 20 grams of methamphetamine, a glass smoking pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue, and a pill bottle containing a bag of suspected marijuana were located.
Eiskina claimed the marijuana was hers, but neither suspect would claim any of the other contraband.
Moore was found to be wanted on a warrant for bank fraud through Third Judicial District Court and his driver’s license had been suspended.
During an additional search at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center two plastic baggies containing marijuana were located on Moore.
Moore was booked for possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of Xanax, possession of Vyvanse, driving under suspension, and improper lights. His bail was set at $40,000.
Eiskina was booked for possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her ball was set at $7,500.
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.
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Ruston High School released the renderings for the brand new softball complex and baseball grandstand re-construction, designed by Mike Walpole in Ruston.
“(These facilities) are going to be phenomenal,” Ruston High Principal Dan Gressett said. “By the time construction is done, very few places are going to be able to compete with what we have facility-wise, all the way across the board. I know our kids are going to be excited about it; it’s been a long time coming.”
As I reflect on the past year leading this historic athletics department, I continue to be humbled by your enthusiastic passion and support. As Loyal Blue supporters, your generosity allows our student-athletes to participate and compete in the sport they love, while enjoying a quality athletics and educational experience. For that, and everything that you do, we are very thankful.
As I began this journey one year ago, I stated that “we have the ability, opportunity, and responsibility to dream big, bold dreams and we must not settle for anything less.” That statement remains as true today as it was a year ago. While the landscape of college athletics shifts around us, it is imperative that we continue to stay true to our vision and values. Internally and externally, we have acknowledged that creating real movement requires an environment conducive to collaboration and enhancement. Over the past year, we have made strides toward achieving that collaborative spirit and approach.
Externally, we engaged in a series of “Tech Talks” and “Tech’s in Town” events that provided an opportunity for engagement with our fans and supporters. Through these events, individual meetings, and various surveys, we have gathered valuable feedback to help us enhance the game day experience across multiple sports. Most recently, thanks to your feedback, we announced a new ticketing and donation structure that will streamline your purchasing and donor experience. Additionally, we introduced a fan/donor priority points system. These advancements will make supporting our student athletes more affordable and eliminate barriers for our fans.
In July, we launched our Bark Louder initiative to create a universal effort to engage, develop, and advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand. We asked you, our ever-loyal supporters, to ‘Bark Louder’ with your time and talent. With your time, we asked you to consume, support, and engage with the athletics department by watching and attending our events, engaging with our social media content, and wearing your Tech gear with pride. Additionally, we asked you to invest your financial resources, knowledge, and abilities in the brand. I am humbled by your response and how ‘Bark Louder’ is progressing. At the end of the academic year, we will show you substantial results that originated from this initiative. Our message is consistent, everyone has time and talent to offer, and when you bark, we bark louder together!
The past year has been filled with staff reorganization. We have entirely new personnel in academic services, ticket sales and operations, and championship resources. Additionally, through the hard work and support of several individuals, we created our first broadcast and technology unit. This unit has transitioned our ESPN+ broadcasts. Beginning with the current baseball season, this unit will be responsible for broadcasting all our non-linear television contests on the ESPN+ platform. As a result of this unit creation, we will have significant cost savings from our previous arrangement and will be able to increase the amount of content we will be able to produce.
Many of you have asked about the upcoming year and how Louisiana Tech will advance in the changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics. With the impending House vs. NCAA settlement, changes are coming, and we continue to work internally with our coaches, staff, general counsel, and conference to ensure we are in the best position to pivot and capitalize on these changes.
The House Settlement is a negotiated, preliminarily approved settlement between the NCAA, its conferences, and a collection of attorneys representing multiple class action lawsuits filed by student-athletes. The settlement continues to move through the approval process, with final approval hearing scheduled for April 7.
This agreement will fundamentally shift intercollegiate athletics operations. Should the settlement be approved as written, there are three main aspects that will have a profound impact on Louisiana Tech:
1) Back-Damage Payments: The settlement provides an estimated $2.8 billion in NIL back-damage payments for student-athletes. To cover damages, the NCAA will reduce annual distributions to all Division 1 member institutions. The estimated total reduction of revenues for Louisiana Tech is $3M – $3.25M over 10 years ($300K – $325K annually).
2) Revenue Sharing: The settlement removes previous restrictions and allows institutions to compensate student-athletes directly. Since 2021, student-athletes have had access to NIL deals with businesses and other third-party collectives (i.e. the Bulldog Community Outreach Collective). Along with this new ability to compensate athletes directly will come structure and rules that, in theory, should dramatically decrease any previous illegitimate NIL transactions (i.e. pay for play). While I believe collectives will still operate, our NIL efforts will be brought in-house to create a nimble structure that most benefits our student-athletes. This structured approach will allow our supporters to directly enhance our student-athlete benefits while receiving a tax deduction for their gifts.
3) Roster Management: The settlement will also fundamentally change our approach to roster management. Teams will now operate under a per-team roster limit versus a scholarship maximum. While I believe this will provide some opportunities for institutions like Louisiana Tech through attrition and other operational realignment measures at the P4 level, it will bring on new challenges to our holistic approach to broad based sport success. Specifically, we will position our sports through fiscal and roster management initiatives, scheduling parameters, and ultimately, competition evaluation criteria. To achieve the desired results and to maximize our opportunities, we must focus on ways to increase revenue, while examining expense reallocation measures.
As a department, we have been working hard evaluating how the settlement will impact us. Through the Louisiana Tech Sports Performance Institute, we have developed and are launching a cloud-based General Manager system to support coaches, sport administrators, and staff in player acquisition and compensation models. Our partnership and collaboration with Victory GM will prepare us to be on the cutting-edge of roster management by:
Providing a platform to dive into performance analytics and identify position-related statistics that, paired with an AI model, will help us determine the per-game value of each position to build winning teams.
Providing a tool to identify, build, and set budgets based on total student-athlete benefits (scholarship, COA, Alston, NIL/Rev Share). This tool, combined with the performance analytics assessment, leads to a business-minded approach to distributing our student-athlete benefits, which should put us in position to compete for championships.
You are critically important as we continue to fine tune our efforts over the next several months. We are taking a competitive and balanced approach to the future of college athletics and working tirelessly to find our place within this new ecosystem. Together, we can and will continue to honor the past successes while creating and charting new ones.
Again, thank you for your continued and unwavering commitment to Louisiana Tech Athletics.
Go Dogs and Lady Techsters!
Ryan Ivey VP/Director of Athletics Louisiana Tech University
Avery Ryan (#25) is the 2024-25 All-Lincoln Parish Journal Team Most Outstanding Player. (photo by Darrell James)
by Malcolm Butler
After guiding Cedar Creek to the Select School Division IV title game in only her second season, Lady Cougars head coach Katie Hall is this year’s Lincoln Parish Journal Coach of the Year.
A good coach needs good players and Hall and the Lady Cougars boasted plenty, including junior forward Avery Ryan who is this year’s All-LPJ Team Most Outstanding Player.
Hall and Ryan guided Cedar Creek to a 29-4 record, the District 1-1A title, and only the school’s second state title game appearance since joining the LHSAA ranks in the 1980s.
Cedar Creek recorded impressive wins over higher classification schools during their non-district slate, including victories over West Monroe, Northwood, Benton, Bastrop and West Ouachita (twice). The Lady Cougars also recorded a perfect 7-0 record in District 1-1A play, including a 49-42 win over Arcadia in the district title game.
The Cougars won 17 straight games before falling 67-57 to No. 1 seed Southern Lab in the title game on Saturday.
Ryan earned the MOP honor after averaging 12.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for the Lady Cougars. The Benton High transfer saved some of her best games for the postseason run, including double doubles in the state semifinal and finals against JC Clark Academy and Southern Lab.
The 6-foot-2-inch forward recorded 15 double digit rebounding games and 22 double digit scoring games, including a career-high 19 boards (and 16 points) in the 47-44 win over JS Clark in the state semifinals. She also had 12 points and 14 rebounds in the state championship game.
Ryan is joined on the 10-person all-LPJ girls hoops team by teammates Alivia Lee, Caroline James and Taylor Martinez while Ruston High’s Kiersynce McNeal and Gioia Tatum, Choudrant’s Reese Brown and Sadie Jones, and Simsboro’s Dakota Powell and Curniya McCallister also earned spots on the squad.
All four teams that had an honoree on this year’s team advanced to the postseason with Creek and Choudrant winning their district titles.
A Bossier City man was arrested by Lincoln Parish deputies last week after a drug detection dog sniffed out marijuana in his car.
Charles Demby Jones Jr., 24, was initially issued citations for possession of marijuana and other offenses until he spit at a deputy and resisted the application of handcuffs.
Jones was stopped for a traffic violation just after midnight on the morning of March 1 on La. Highway 150 between Ruston and Grambling. A deputy had to follow Jones with his emergency lights on for over a mile and a half before he pulled into the USA Travel Plaza. Based on his behavior and demeanor during the stop, a drug detection dog was requested at the scene.
The canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in Jones‘s vehicle. During a search, a small amount of marijuana was located. A deputy was completing a citation to appear in court, Jones allegedly spit at another deputy. He was told to place his hands behind his back to be handcuffed, but he refused to comply. It took three deputies to gain compliance and secure him in handcuffs, according to an arrest report.
Jones was booked in the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for flight from an officer, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer, and improper lights. His 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.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
The Grambling State University Sociology/Psychology Department’s Listen to the Voices Project invites you to the Healthy Brothers, Healthy Future Health Symposium on April 2–3, 2025—a transformative event focused on tackling the unique health challenges faced by men in our surrounding communities.
Our mission is to raise awareness, spark meaningful dialogue, and inspire actionable solutions to enhance cardiovascular, mental, and sexual health outcomes for men. This symposium offers a unique opportunity to come together, learn, and make strides toward improving preventive health outcomes.
Registration is free, and everyone is welcome—men and women alike—because we all have fathers, brothers, partners, and loved ones whose health and well-being matter.
Don’t miss this impactful event. Let’s join forces to create a healthier future together!
Watching collegiate softball is dangerous. Especially when you do incredibly stupid things.
Those who follow my social media know I am more than a fan of Louisiana Tech Softball. A fanatic, to be sure. I follow them around the country during the all-too-short and often very cold “spring” season and then count the days until the team returns for fall practice. This year, my fanaticism has taken me to Huntsville, Ala., and Hattiesburg, Miss., and “The Billy,” the team’s home stadium named for Dr. Billy Bundrick.
The speed of the game, the emotion displayed by the players, and the strategy and skill give even the casual fan a satisfying experience. I store memories of watching Claire snare a line drive I’m sure will sail over her head, or Nicole and KB turning a tricky double play, or Allie fanning batter after batter, happy to relive those moments and others again over the years. Sports don’t get any better than that.
But the basis for my enthusiasm for the team is a story for another time. Get too consumed in the game and calamity may befall the fanatic.
A week ago, I was sitting up in the stands watching a tournament game in Hattiesburg while the Tech team prepped for the next contest. A pop-up came my way. Blasted high above the lights, the yellow ball almost completely disappeared into the darkness above.
The only thing worse than trying to catch a ball in the stands and dropping it to the jeers of the crowd is cowering in fear with your arms wrapped protectively around your head. Next to a heroic, athletic catch to protect a little old lady sitting near you, the best option is a display of cool indifference.
For just a moment I entertained the crazy idea for a non-athlete like me. I’ll catch it. I won’t even have to move. It’s coming right at me.
Knowing that was pretty stupid, having my glasses in one hand and my phone in the other, I decided no. By this time the ball is on its way down and comes back under the lights so I can see it. It’s coming right at me. One last foolhardy thought of throwing down my glasses and phone and catching it. With my luck, it would probably slip through my hands and break either my glasses or my phone.
There’s a big difference between using a glove to catch a softball thrown at you and trying to catch one barehanded falling from the heavens aimed straight at your head.
So I make the wise choice to slide over about a foot and just let the ball, with no concern whatsoever, hit the stands beside me. And here it comes. It’s moving faster than an Allie Floyd fastball aided by gravity and I couldn’t very well empty my hands and stand up before it got to me. Not that I’d be able to catch it anyway. So smart me, I slide over, confident the ball is not going to hit me.
Here’s where the incredibly stupid part comes in. Even though I slid my body over, I forgot to move my feet. The ball slammed into my left foot, making as much noise as if it had hit the metal stands. I struggled not to scream like a 12-year-old girl, but it hurt pretty bad.
After gritting my teeth and suppressing that scream, I checked to see if my toes were still connected to my foot. I was sure that ball had amputated at least two of them. Possibly three. I looked over to see how close the Tech trainer was with the first aid kit. Did he know how to apply a tourniquet?
I kept my head down hoping no one noticed my agony. Finally, I could tell my toes were still attached because they hurt worse when I wiggled them.
Fortunately, I was wearing pretty sturdy shoes, or I think I would have broken one or two of my littlest toes. I’m still hobbling just a little bit a week later. It only hurts when I walk. Or stand up.
But I’m sure I will live to walk normally again.
So the moral of the story is never even think of doing something best left to the professionals.
I did one more incredibly stupid thing at Hattiesburg. I got sunburned the following day. Not terribly but enough to dread a scheduled appointment with my dermatologist the following morning. The dermatologist who is always hounding me about skin cancer.
Stupid fanatical me.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Pictured is Lincoln Prep coach Antonio Hudson and his Panthers ready to celebrate in the final seconds of Friday night’s game against JS Clark Leadership Academy. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
Lincoln Prep
By T. Scott Boatright
GRAMBLING — Here come the Panthers, knocking on that door again.
The Lincoln Preparatory School boys basketball team has spent the past three seasons knocking on the door of a state championship, reaching at the semifinals if not finals in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association playoffs.
On Friday inside the LPS gym, the second-seeded Panthers earned a fourth-straight to Marsh Madness with a 67-37 win over seventh-seeded JS Clark Academy to make it six straight years Lincoln Prep will be heading to Lake Charles and Division IV Select School Final Four.
Lincoln Prep dominated from start to finish, leading 19-10 at the end of the opening stanza and 40-21 at the half.
Panthers coach Antonio Hudson credited that to being because his team stuck to the gameplan they had going into the contest.
“That was a good team we just beat and that coach is going to be a really good coach,” Hudson said. “He’s young. He just started. But he’s going to be really good.
“We’re just blessed that we stayed with the game plan and got their top player (LaDamien George, who finished with eight points) into foul trouble, because he really can play. I think it was doing and holding him down in scoring that was what made the difference in the game tonight.”
But that doesn’t mean Hudson was pleased with everything he saw from his Panthers.
“The thing is, we were losing the boards in the first half,” Hudson said. “We talked about that at halftime and focused on that. But our guys played hard. They stuck to the gameplan and they played their tails off.”
Unsurprisingly, Trey Spann led the Panthers in scoring as he so often does, finishing with 21 points on the night.
“He’s been playing since he was in the eighth grade and came up with great players, too, so he’s been around championship-level players all of his life,” Hudson said. “But the main thing with Trey is that he puts in the work, and it shows.
“That’s exactly what happened tonight. In the first quarter they kind of focused on him and he didn’t get a shot off. But as soon as they left him in single-coverage, he knocked that shot down and went on from there.”
Devin Burton added 20 points for the Panthers while also chalking up four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot while Zion Hicks double-doubled, totalling 10 points and 11 boards along with two assists and two steals.
Hudson credited his bench players for playing a vital role against JS Clark.
Zeterrious (Owens) came in and played well, Daylon Edwards came in and played well,” Hudson said. “And that’s what I expect. I don’t care which player does it, as long as someone is doing it. And that’s what a deep team is all about.”
Hudson said that while he didn’t exactly predict another Marsh Madness trip for his Panthers before the season began, he knew that potential was there.
“I was at a friends’ house playing dominoes last summer, and I told him that this team could be really special,” Hudson said. “Not just because of one player, but because we’re deep. We’re playing without a starter right now and we just keep moving on. We’re still playing well.
“On any given night, we don’t know what kind of stats our players will give you because so many of them can play big in all roles and categories on any given night. And that’s a good thing, to be that deep. So we can afford to get into foul trouble and switch lineups around.”
So now for a fourth straight year, the Panthers prepare for Marsh Madness.
Hudson hopes past lessons will pay off for his team this time around.
“Here’s the thing — we’re young overall, but a lot of these guys have been down there (to Marsh Madness) on multiple occasions. They know what it feels like going down there and coming back empty handed.
“So that’s been something we’ve been focusing on — unfinished business. They want a championship just as much as I do. This senior class had been (to Marsh Madness) every year. They’ve played in Lake Charles every year. And that means it’s up to them. It doesn’t matter how bad I want it, want it for me or for them. It’s about how much they want it, and now they just have to go get over that hump.”
Lincoln Prep (25-7) will next take on third-seeded Southern Lab in Division IV Select School semifinals action next week at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
SIMSBORO SCHOOL
SIMSBORO — Hall of Fame football coach Vince Lombardi would have been proud of the Simsboro High School boys basketball team Friday night.
The coach the Super Bowl Trophy is named for (after he coached the Green Bay Packers to win the first two of those championship contests) is famous for saying, “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.”
Well, the fourth-seeded Simsboro Tigers got punched in the mouth early on in their Class B quarterfinals boys basketball playoff game before getting up off the floor and turning the tables on fifth-seeded Hicks to punch their tickets to Marsh Madness next week in Lake Charles as they roared to a 77-63 win over the Pirates inside the SHS gym.
Hicks opened the game on an 11-3 run before the Tigers stumbled back onto their feet to tie the contest at 15-15 on a Jakleb Modest 3-pointer at the 1:25 mark of the opening stanza.
Modest drew the opportunity to try an “and 1” free-throw attempt that failed to fall through the nets as Hicks held a 17-15 advantage heading into the second quarter.
But the Tigers finally regained the lead at 25-23 on an Ahmad Smith 3-pointer with 4:51 left in the first half before going on a 10-0 run to close out the second quarter to take a 40-29 advantage into the locker room at intermission.
“We played as a team tonight, a special team that played really well together,” Wodach said. “You saw winning basketball from every player that was on the court tonight.
“The thing is, we would have lost that game earlier in the year. But we’ve learned how to finish.”
Wodach said that learned confidence is how his team overcame its early knockdown to battle back for the convincing win.
“It’s a tribute to our growth and our willingness to stay together,” Woodach said. “I don’t think there was ever a panic. I don’t think we ever panicked. I think we had moments where we let our feet off the gas, but I don’t think we ever panicked.”
Simsboro led from start to finish in the second half. But that didn’t mean the Pirates gave up their fight.
Trailing 59-47 heading into the fourth quarter, Hicks pulled within five points of the Tigers at 59-54 with 5:12 left on the clock on a Micah Merchant 3-point.
But that’s as close as the Pirates as the Tigers earned their first Marsh Madness berth for the first time since 2022.
Modest led the Tigers with what Wodach termed “a quiet” 31 points while Smith added 23.
But it was Simsboro’s other Smith — the senior known as “Man-Man,” Trumarion Smith — that guided this team through tough conditions early on and kept their offense on track, finishing with 18 points on the night.
“He has the heart of a champion and has the will to just refuse to lose, and you saw that tonight,” Wodach said of Trumarion Smith. “Having a coach on the floor is like, I don’t have to call anything. Just get the ball in his hands and something good is going to happen.
“In a game like this, with this incredible atmosphere, you can’t call anything because they’re not going to hear you above the crowd. It was an incredible environment. The Simsboro fans were just spectacular. But my players didn’t need to be able to hear me because Trumarion is such a special kid and player.”
Simsboro won its 2022 state title in then Coach Josh Brown’s final season with the Tigers.
In 2023 the Tigers fell in the second round of the playoffs under a new coach, who resigned at the end of the season, opening the door for the “Adam Wodach Era” for Simsboro boys basketball.
But while being proud of what his team has accomplished since he’s been their head coach, making it to the quarterfinals last year before falling to eventual Division V Nonselect School champion Zwolle, he’s not accepting credit for the quick turnaround in returning the Tigers to one of the top teams in Louisiana.
“It’s not about me, man,” Wodach said. “It’s about these kids and what this program stands for. I’m just lucky to be a part of it. My staff and I and my assistants and our principal and teachers can put these kids in a position to succeed, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my career, it’s that player’s win games.”
Next up for Simsboro will be a semifinals game against top-seeded Lacassine (which defeated nine-seeded Stanley 67-25 Friday night) next week at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
Over the weekend, multiple parish softball teams competed, with both Ruston and Choudrant participating in the Choudrant Tournament and Simsboro facing off with Cedar Creek. See line score results below.
WALKER, La. — Ruston High dug as deep as possible on the road Friday night, hoping for a third consecutive trip to the semifinals.
Unfortunately, it would not prove enough for the scoreboard as No. 3 Denham Springs (28-3) downed the No. 6 Bearcats (18-6) 53-50, ending Ruston’s season in a physical ballgame on the campus of Walker High School.
Down 53-50 with under ten seconds remaining, Ruston High had a few opportunities, including a three-point attempt by sophomore Keshun Malcolm that did everything in the rim except go through the basket. The shot was set up by a great defensive stop on an inbound pass by the Yellow Jackets that ended up in a jump ball situation to give the Bearcats the ball back. Ruston would not score again and the season would end in the quarterfinal loss.
“I think our team did everything they were supposed to do tonight,” Ruston High acting-head coach Corey Deans said. “I didn’t do a good job of settling us down early. Then the foul-trouble bug got us. (Denham Springs) ran their sets and were more patient than I have ever seen them. So that’s a shout-out to them. They executed their offense better, and I didn’t have an answer for it tonight.”
The Yellow Jackets opened up with a quick basket to take an early 2-0 lead at the 7:20 mark of the first, and the Bearcats responded with a three-pointer by sophomore Keshun Malcolm put Ruston up 3-2 with 6:59 to go in the quarter.
After a Ruston time out, sophomore Ahmad Hudson would account for the Bearcats’ next six straight points including an alley-oop slam from senior Joran Parker to put the ‘Cats up 9-4.
Denham Springs would hit a three with 3:40 to play in the first, cutting the lead to 9-7. Parker answered with a basket on the next possession to put Ruston back up 11-7. The Jackets answered again on the following possession to cut the lead by to two at 11-9, but Hudson would answer with a dunk off of his own missed shot for a 13-9 edge.
Parker would score the last basket for Ruston in the first quarter on a layup with 1:10 to go in the quarter, adding to Ruston’s lead at 15-9. The Yellow Jackets would end the quarter on a 5-0 run, and the Bearcats led 15-14 going into the second quarter.
Denham Springs would find life in the second, outscoring Ruston 14-8 in the stanza. The Yellow Jackets took the lead early in the quarter with a quick bucket at the 7:35 mark of the first half, but Ruston’s defense held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for nearly three minutes. Senior Aidan Anding knocked down a couple of free throws and Parker hit a layup in transition to put Ruston up 19-16 near the five minute mark of the first half.
Denham Springs, however, would outscore Ruston 12-4 for the remainder of the half. Anding would account for a basket at the 4:15 mark, while Parker would get another layup in transition after a steal by senior Zheric Hill to cut the Yellow Jacket lead to 28-23 going into the halftime locker room.
Hudson would pick up his third foul quickly in the third quarter, but Deans kept him in the basketball game. It was the right call, as Hudson would get a block and find Parker on an outlet pass for another layup for a 28-25 score with 7:22 on the clock in the third quarter. Malcolm would add another basket on the next possession to cut it to 28-27.
After a Denham Springs basket, Ruston would get four quick points, including a coast-to-coast layup from Anding to get back up 31-30. Hudson would score Ruston’s final five points of the quarter to put the ‘Cats ahead 36-35 heading into the fourth.
“We had a lot of fight in us,” Deans said. “We came back, but I wish we hadn’t gotten down like that. We got a little rattled. I used every timeout we had. I just have to find a different way to calm us down, or maybe schedule more road games in hostile environments like this.”
Shortly after Denham Springs three-pointer, Hudson would pick up his fourth foul of the night with 7:39 to play in the game. After getting down 41-36, Malcolm knocked down a three-pointer to cut the lead to 41-39. For the next four minutes, Ruston would outscore Denham Springs 8-3 to take a 47-44 lead with 3:52 to play. After a Ruston timeout, Denham Springs put together a 8-0 run to get the lead back with less than two minutes to play.
Ruston’s final basket would come from a three-pointer in the corner by Hudson, who led all scorers with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Parker finished the night with 12.
The night ends the Bearcat careers for Anding, Hill, Parker and seniors C.J. Malone and Fabian Stringfellow. Deans believes the team will be returning a very talented team into next year.
“The future is bright for this program,” Deans said. “Everything is bright, even with this tough loss tonight. But this programs has a lot of studs in it.”
Cedar Creek
by Malcolm Butler
Jake Terry scored 19 points and Cannon Robbins and Cameron Temple each added 12 points as Cedar Creek saw its season come to a close with a 67-48 loss at Hamilton Christian in Select School Division IV quarterfinal action Friday night.
Javon Vital scored a game-high 28 points for No. 4 seed Hamilton Christian (18-7), including 15 points in a first half that saw the Warriors build a 34-20 halftime advantage.
Hamilton Christian led 17-11 after the opening quarter of action as Terry netted four points for the Cougars (15-10). The Warriors then outscored Creek 17-9 in the second stanza with Terry adding four more points.
Terry hit a trifecta of three-pointers in the third quarter and Temple added five points but Cedar Creek wasn’t able to cut into the deficit as Hamilton Christian extended its lead to 53-38 heading into the fourth.
Robbins ended his high school career with a pair of three-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Jack Bell and Landon Hall also suited up for the final time for Cedar Creek in the loss.
The Cougars advanced to the quarterfinals overcoming numerous injuries to key contributors in the second half of the season.
Hamilton Christian will face No. 1 seed Crescent City, a 67-50 winner over ML King Charter.
(Owen Hebert with gold in 14U and 16U, Conner Jackson with gold in 14U)
Special to the LPJ
BRUSLY, La. The Triad Wrestling Club had an outstanding showing at the Panther Paw Open, displaying grit, determination, and remarkable improvement from their last tournament. With 16 wins in total, five podium finishes, 13 pins, and three technical falls, the team proved that hard work in practice is paying off.
Additionally, Drake Russell, Levi Stephenson, Blayden Daniels, Robert Stevens, Fisher Cannon, and Brett Brown showcased strong performances, competing with heart and resilience. With no beginner divisions this weekend, the team stepped up to the challenge and didn’t back down.
“We saw so much improvement from our last tournament, and it’s clear who’s putting in the work and staying consistent on the mat,” said the Triad Wrestling Club head coach Jeremy Hebert. “We’re proud of every wrestler who competed, and we’re excited to keep building towards the next challenge.”
The team now shifts its focus to continued growth and preparation for the Ark La Tex Classic on March 15.
