Cedar Creek lands four on all-District 1-1A squad; Hall earns COY

by Malcolm Butler

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)