by Malcolm Butler
The Choudrant High School varsity basketball teams both picked up wins Friday night during their Homecoming Weekend.
The Aggies defeated D’Arbonne Woods 57-48 while the Lady Aggies knocked off D’Arbonne Woods 42-26 to continue their fast start to the 2025-26 season.
Aggies 57, D’Arbonne Woods 48
Clarence Menyweather led three Aggies in double figures with 19 points, while Brayden Pye added 11 and Turner Rhodes chipped in with 10.
“I really loved how the guys continued to battle even though shots were not falling for us early,” said head coach Ryan Smith. “We were able to establish an inside game in the first half with Brayden Pye that helped get some point on the board in the first half.”
Pye started the game strong, scoring nine of his 11 points in the opening quarter as he helped Choudrant end the quarter in an 11-11 tie.
Menyweather was the offensive catalyst in the second quarter, netting seven points as the Aggies took a 25-23 lead into the halftime locker room.
It was Rhodes turn in the third quarter as the freshman scored seven, including hitting a pair of three-pointers, as Choudrant extended its lead to 42-35 heading into the final stanza.
Any chance of a D’Arbonne Woods rally was doused in the fourth as Menyweather hit 6-of-6 free throws en route to scoring eight points as Choudrant outscored the visitors by two.
“D’Arbonne Woods has a really good team that is going to have a successful year,” said Smith. “Getting a win tonight for Homecoming was special for this group of guys. They handled themselves very well all week leading to a great game on Friday.”
D’Arbonne Woods was led by Mikey Carey with 17 points and Damian Carr with 17 points.
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Lady Aggies 42, D’Arbonne Woods 26
The Lady Aggies used a strong defensive effort in the first half to build a halftime lead in defeating D’Arbonne Woods 42-26.
With almost half the team on the 2025 Homecoming Court, it took the Lady Aggies some time to get in a rhythm on the basketball court.
“We had 7 girls on homecoming court, so we were out of routine,” said head coach Brandy Roberson.
Although Choudrant managed just seven points in the opening quarter, the Lady Aggies held D’Arbonne Woods scoreless.
Sadie Jones scored four points and Reese Brown hit a three-pointer in the second quarter as Choudrant entered the halftime locker room lead 17-13.
The low scoring affair continued into the third quarter with Choudrant outscoring its opponent 7-5, extending its advantage to 24-18 heading into the fourth.
Free throws were a big part of the final eight minutes as Choudrant hit 9-of-15 while D’Arbonne Woods made 5-of-9 as each team netted 18 points during the quarter.
“We stepped up and made some big free throws as we struggled to score,” said Roberson. “It isn’t always pretty, but we found a way to win and get the job done. It was a big win being homecoming.”
Brown led the Lady Aggies with 16 points, while Kat Hernandez added eight, and Jones with six.
“Reese stepped up and was a leader and did a good job of handling the ball,” said Roberson.
