Barbara Ann Knight McKaskle, 90, of Ruston, Louisiana passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 20, 2025. Two Memorial Services will be held in her memory. The first will be Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. at First United Methodist Church in Hammond, Louisiana, of which she was a long-time member. Reverend Jack O’Dell will serve as the officiant. Visitation will be held at the church from 1:00 P.M. until service time. Following the service, a reception for family and friends will be held in the Fellowship Hall at the church.
The second Memorial Service will be Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. in Burkhalter Chapel of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston, Louisiana with Reverend Doug de Graffenried officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 1:00 P.M. until service time. Following the service, a reception for family and friends will be in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity Methodist Church.
Barbara was born on July 20, 1934, in Kingsville, Texas. Barbara was a CASA Advocate and loved volunteering at the food pantries in both Hammond and Ruston. She was very passionate about helping those less fortunate in her communities. Barbara was also a conservationist and was always keeping her neighborhood clean and free of litter; she was affectionately known as the “Trashy Lady”. She loved to grow zinnias and distributed them to friends and places she went to put a smile on someone’s face. Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ray McKaskle; parents, Emily Veit and Cecil Knight; and sister, Linda Knight Bartly.
She is survived by her son, Raymond McKaskle and wife Kimery of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Amy McKaskle Watts and husband Jim of Shreveport and Kyle McKaskle and wife Amy of Ruston; great-grandchildren, Emily Watts, Elizabeth Watts, Charlie McKaskle, and Sadie McKaskle; sister, Betty Barcello and her husband Bennie of Willis, Texas; brother, Sydney “Pete” Knight of Deer Park, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews who loved her dearly and called her Aunt “B;” and a host of many other cherished family and friends.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Rusty Knight, Pete Knight, Roy Stapp, Kyle McKaskle, Jim Watts, and John Stapp.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local food pantry or to Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Anita Howard Gray August 19, 1946 – February 6, 2025 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Friday, February 14, 2025, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Service: Alabama Presbyterian Church, Saturday, February 15, 2025, 10:00 am
Sarah Singleton Howard Friday 09/08/1922 — Thursday 02/06/2025 Visitation: Friday 02/14/2025 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 02/15/2025 11:00am, New Prosperity Baptist Church, 1378 Prosperity Church Road, Clay Interment: Saturday 02/15/2025 Following Service, New Prosperity Cemetery, Clay
Bryan Beck was just a kid when he first fell in love with Ruston, La.
His father Gil was a high school football official in North Louisiana for over 30 years, and when Dad would get called to a game at James Field, young Bryan would follow.
“My dad would load me up from time to time while I was in grade school and middle school, and that was in the mid-80’s and early-90’s,” Beck said. “He always loved it when he drew Ruston. When we came here, it was different here, right? You could feel it when you walked into the stadium — the crowds, the players– everything about it was different.”
Beck at the time had no way of knowing just how much Ruston would be threaded throughout his story. And as Beck prepares to coach his first game tonight as a head coach, he recounted his journey from a rising sports star in Caddo and Bossier Parishes to Tech Bulldog catcher and now the head guy at a school he loves.
A quarterback, pitcher and catcher growing up, Beck was a Dixie Youth and American Legion baseball player and played both football and baseball for two years for Northwood High School before transferring to Airline High School, where he graduated in 1997. During that time, Beck was getting noticed by colleges from McNeese to Northwestern State to Louisiana Tech.
And, like most senior boys in high school, his decision to sign and play for Louisiana Tech was heavily swayed by a girlfriend, though they had split by the time Beck got to campus.
“We weren’t even together by the time I graduated high school,” Beck said. “But I was still on the way to Tech, and God has His plan there.”
Beck played four years for the Bulldogs behind the plate, even catching for Casey Blalock in the Bulldogs’ final game in the Sun Belt before Tech moved to the Western Athletic Conference the following season.
While at Tech, Beck made the best decision of his adult life by pursuing and then marrying Ruston High alum Jana Newberry. The couple now has three sons, Payton, Bailey Jack and Knox.
And it wasn’t only baseball that Beck found appealing in choosing Louisiana Tech: his Bulldog degree is in agronomy and plant science, a passion he’s held since a youngster on the field and the diamond, having plenty of experience growing up tending to the grounds of various baseball fields.
During his Bulldog tenure, he developed a friendship with a fellow Diamond ‘Dog and local business owner, Steve Davison. And it just so happens that Davison was getting ready to open a premiere golf course in 2002 shortly after Beck’s graduation: Squire Creek Country Club, which would need an assistant superintendent of grounds.
“Steve told me they were building a golf course and told me that I’d be really good for them,” Beck said. “He got us hooked up out there, and I was there for about six years. There was a couple of years I was there during construction, and I served in that role for a few years afterword.”
Beck would leave Squire Creek and join up with Nick Cauley for a landscaping business, where he would stay until the itch to get into coaching got too intense to ignore.
“It just really started to tug on my heart,” Beck said. “I look back and see that God’s called me to do this for a long time, so in 2018, we sold the business and I told my wife Jana that coaching is what I was supposed to be doing.”
And in 2018, he called an old friend and Bulldog teammate: first-year Ruston High Principal Dan Gressett.
“When he decided he wanted to return to education, we knew we wanted to hire him,” Gressett said. “He helped out in special ed and helped coach softball, so we had to hire him as a longterm sub at first, since he wasn’t certified just yet. He was someone that would just do what we needed him to do.”
Ruston High School head football coach Jerrod Baugh saw the same desire from Beck early on when he wanted to come be part of the “Firmly Founded.”
“When he came in and told me that this is what he wanted to do, I believed him,” Baugh said. “Coach Beck was involved in other jobs before this, but he was always involved in some form as a coach. And doing those other things allows him to bring a lot to the table. Ever since he was completely certain that he wanted to get into coaching at the high school level, he’s done everything that has been asked of him to do. He’s worked his tail off to get where he’s at today, and he’s absolutely earned it.”
Gressett saw during the hiring process last year when the role was opened just how committed Beck was. Never did he waver on his commitment to Ruston High — a school that he may never have walked the halls as a student, but a school that has adopted him dearly as one of its own.
“He’s all in on Ruston High,” Gressett said. “His heart is all in. You can see how much he cares by how hard he works and that he genuinely cares for the kids and is intentional on forming relationships. I think a lot of people don’t get to see that.”
And tonight is a special marker for Beck. After years and helping in anyway he could, including co-coaching the offensive line for the 2024 Ruston Bearcats, he now has a brand new title, and one that suits him well: Bearcat Head Coach.
“I’m really humbled considering I never thought I’d be sitting here today as the head coach,” Beck said in an interview over the summer. “There were a lot of rumbling out there during this hiring process, but I was ready to serve as needed. But then, all of a sudden, they wanted to hire me. It can humble you really quickly.”
And his mission is clear: take care of the students that come through the program and the school and put the program back on the winning path.
“It’s our obligation to give kids the best experience they can have here,” Beck said. “I think we’re going to some really great things here.”
Ruston High opens the 2025 season tonight against Oak Grove in Monroe, La., at Lou St. Amant Field on the campus of UL-Monroe. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Engineering Consultant Henry Shuler (left) is pictured talking to Grambling’s City Council Thursday night. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
GRAMBLING — Water project funding was the primary order of attention Thursday evening as the Grambling City Council held its monthly meeting for February.
That included the City Council authorizing a change order for a Water Sector Project involving replacement of city water meters. The change order comes after the Council voted in December to redistribute surplus funding from another project.
“This should bring us to as built conditions,” Shuler said of the need to make the change order. “Contractually on paper we’re done, but they have more work to do in the field. Probably 40-45 days and we’ll be ‘done done.’ All in all, I’m tickled because we’re about $220,000 under budget.
“Here’s what that means. The Water Sector Program won’t allow us to use that for something completely unrelated. Half of that, around $100,000, was from (the city’s) ARPA funds and has been redistributed as was voted on during your December meeting to keep work on (replacing city) water meters going. This change order will make that happen.”
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is a $1.9 trillion federal stimulus bill that was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. The ARPA was intended to help the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic by providing economic and public health assistance.
Grambling’s City Council also authorized Mayor Alvin Bradley to sign all documents required to make 2024-25 LGAP (Local Government Assistance Program) and CWEF (Community Water Enrichment Fund) applications.
“LGAP is Local Government Assistance Program that comes from the state every year,” Shuler said. “You’re eligible for up to $50,000, and you usually get at least close to that. This application will be for street repairs. It will probably be just isolated patches.
“CWEF stands for Community Water Enrichment Fund. The most popular need right now is water meters, so we’ll seek up to $50,000 to change out more water meters. I believe we’re doing about 800 of them in the current project so we still have several hundred to go to finish all of it. This is what the money would go toward.”
Shuler also advised Grambling’s City Council to authorize Bradley to sign a contract with the Mabry Company for a need he deemed urgent.
“We have kind of a couple of emergency situations that if we don’t fix them now could get out of hand,” Shuler said. “Probably the most urgent one is on Stadium Drive where we’ve had a caved-in culvert. The city has made a couple of temporary patches.
“What that authorization would do is allow the Mabry Company to repair that one and another one on Park Street. We have amended another LAGAP grant to fund those repairs, so that won’t come directly out of city funds.”
Shuler then warned the Council he said they need to keep their eyes on.
“The Trump Administration had their federal funding freeze,” Shuler said. “(Grambling Mayor Alvin) Bradley called and asked if that would affect us. My answer was no, because any Federal funds we have coming are already approved.
“But then it was clarified a little later than even though there might already be money in state coffers, (the federal government) could freeze those accounts. I didn’t know that. So the point I’m making is that about $900,000 of your current water projects come from federal funds that have not been released yet. You draw the money as projects are completed.”
Shuler told the council that one state agency yesterday decided to delay the start of an approved project because of the current uncertainty about federal funding of projects.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty that’s above my pay grade and above y’all,” Shuler said. “So let’s just pray that gets worked out because it could impact the city. I’ve been told they wouldn’t be able to process your payouts for federally-funded projects if, for some reason, that freeze is there.
“It doesn’t make me feel good because a lot of our projects, even beyond y’all, are federally funded. We’ve gotten emails from the state encouraging that we should try to draw the funds as quickly as possible because of fears the freeze could hinder projects.”
Grambling State University remains committed to removing financial barriers and empowering student success, awarding $267,968 in donor-funded scholarships to 264 students for the Spring 2025 semester.
This milestone builds upon a record-breaking year, with the university surpassing its $500,000 scholarship goal for 2024-2025 — a 102% increase in total funds distributed and a 131% rise in the number of awards granted compared to the previous academic year. With 7,541 applications submitted, the GSU Scholarship Committee worked diligently to review applications and strategically allocate funding to maximize impact.
“Every dollar dedicated to our students helps unlock their potential, fuel their success, and shape their future,” said Brandon A. Logan, Vice President for University Advancement and Innovation. “With 42% of our students being first-generation and over 95% relying on some form of aid, we recognize the critical role scholarships play in transforming lives. Our mission is to become the #1 HBCU in social and economic mobility, and these investments directly empower our students to achieve upward financial and career success.”
Some of the most impactful awards this semester came from the Hunt Forest Products, LLC Endowed Scholarship, Joel L. Fletcher, Jr. and Ralph W.E. Jones, Sr. Scholarship, Rick Gallot Endowed Scholarship, The Shade Room First Generation Endowed Scholarship, and the Willie D. Davis Endowed Scholarship, each contributing $9,000 in scholarships to deserving students.
Scholarship Recipients Share Their Transformative Experiences
For many students, receiving a scholarship is more than just financial relief — it represents hope, recognition, and a renewed commitment to their academic journey.
“As an international student with a partial scholarship and a $3,000 deficit, receiving this support has been life-changing,” said Theophilus Mensah, a freshman management major from Kumasi, Ghana. “It has significantly reduced my financial burden, allowing me to focus on my education and career aspirations. This scholarship is a symbol of hope and encouragement, reminding me that my dreams are valid and achievable.”
Tamia Curtis, a sophomore criminal justice major from Ruston, Louisiana, echoed this sentiment. “After receiving this award, I felt that my academic efforts had been noticed — I’ve been working hard to exceed my own expectations. The financial assistance will allow me to focus more on my studies and become more engaged on campus, including joining student organizations.”
These scholarships not only lighten financial strain but also empower students to remain engaged, persist, and achieve their academic goals—a direct testament to the power of philanthropy in higher education.
This semester’s awards surpassed the university’s goal, marking a record-breaking year of scholarship support. Compared to Fall 2024, when $232,500 in endowed scholarships were distributed, Grambling State continues to increase scholarship resources year over year.
“Grambling State remains steadfast in its mission to eliminate financial barriers and open doors for our students,” said President Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr. “We are deeply grateful to our investors, whose generosity continues to transform lives. Their commitment not only supports individual student success but also strengthens the legacy of excellence that defines Grambling State.”
Endowments: A Lasting Impact on Grambling State’s Future
Endowments serve as a cornerstone of GSU’s long-term strategy for financial sustainability and student support. Unlike one-time gifts, endowments generate investment income while preserving the principal, ensuring perpetual scholarship funding for future generations.
The Grambling University Foundation plays a critical role in managing these funds, ensuring that donor contributions are maximized for growth and longevity.
“Endowed scholarships allow donors to create a lasting legacy while directly shaping the future of our students,” said Logan. “With a 3% payout of endowment value this year, these funds are actively providing critical scholarship support while preserving principal for future generations.”
Join the Legacy – Invest in Grambling State Students
As Grambling State continues to break barriers and expand access to education, the support of investors remains crucial. Every gift — whether establishing a new endowment, contributing to an existing scholarship, or making an annual commitment fuels student potential and strengthens Grambling State University’s institutional excellence.
To learn more about how donor-funded scholarships and endowments are transforming lives, visit www.gram.edu/endowments.
Police arrested a Ruston woman last Monday after she allegedly lied about her name and was found with crack cocaine.
Andrecia D. Mays, 34, was arrested February 3 after a Ruston Police supervisor saw a vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway on Jones Street. When the officer approached, the two occupants both attempted to walk away from the vehicle. One of the women initially identified herself as Dena Mays. However, the name could not be verified.
As the officer attempted to detain the woman, she began to pull away and cry. When asked why she was resisting, she admitted she had a pipe for smoking illegal drugs on her.
The glass pipe and a small plastic bag of suspected cocaine was found in her jacket pocket. The woman finally identified herself as Andrecia Mays.
Two active warrants through were found for Mays for failure to appear in Third District Court on charges of simple battery and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance.
Mays was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for a possession of cocaine, resisting an officer by providing false information, and the two warrants. Bail was set at $26,500.
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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Former Bulldogs Milton Williams (#97) helped lead the Eagles to Super Bowl LIX Sunday night. (Photo courtesy of Tech Athletics)
by Malcolm Butler
Milton Williams made history.
No he isn’t the first Louisiana Tech player to ever win a Super Bowl title, but he did join an elite fraternity of professionals Sunday night when he helped lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a 40-22 victory over Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
Williams also became the 15th former Bulldog to earn the bling bling, joining the likes of Ryan Allen (3x), Larry Anderson (2x), Chris Boniol, Terry Bradshaw (4x), Fred Dean (2 time), Doug Evans, David Lee, Johnny Robinson, Artie Smith, D’Anthony Smith, L’Jarius Sneed (2x), Matt Stover (2x), Grant Williams and Tramon Williams.
And Milton didn’t just win one, he had a tremendous impact on the Eagles making easy work of the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Williams, who lettered for the Bulldogs from 2018 through 2020, recorded a season-high four tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one fumble recovery and one QB hurry for an Eagles defense that held Kansas City scoreless until late in the third quarter when the game was already out of reach.
The Crowley, Texas, native finished the regular season with 24 tackles, including five sacks.
In addition to 15 former Tech players winning Super Bowls, three former Bulldogs (Cloyce Box, Caleb Martin, Leo Sanford) won NFL Championships prior to the Super Bowl existing.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Ruston High School’s indoor track and field team put together a stellar performance this weekend, including a state-leading long jump by senior Aidan Anding and the boys 4×800 meter relay team performance.
“There were a lot of great takeaways from our trip down to LSU this past weekend,” Ruston High head coach Trey Smith said. “I was very encouraged to see how well the team put together a multitude of top 10 placings highlighted by Aidan’s Louisiana No. 1 Long Jump of 22 feet, 11.25 inches, and our Boys 4x800m Relay team of Joshua Daulton, Taylor Huddleston, Josiah Finley, and Luke Braswell top time of 8 minutes, 15.51 seconds, and Boys 4x200m Relay (D’Joryen Jenkins, Aidan Anding, Dylone Brooks, Malcolm Pierce) LA#3 time 1:31.70.
“Aidan’s first time jumping indoors was very impressive, and a great credit to him getting right back to wear he left off last year being the Outdoor 5A state runner up. Our relays competed with a level of intensity that we have been fostering all through winter training. We had one chance to qualify, and I couldn’t be happier that the boys 4×800 left with the top qualifying time and our 4×2 set a new school record in the process. Our execution of the technical aspects of each event has tremendously improved over the past month of indoor season resulting in these outstanding student-athletes qualifying in a multitude of events for state.”
I’m very excited to see how we progress in the following weeks leading up to the Indoor state championships on February 22nd at the Carl Maddox Field House at LSU.
See below for other finishes of note.
Top 4 Placements from LSU Last Chance:
Aidan Anding 1st Place Boys Long Jump with a leap of 22’11.25’. Ranks #1 in Division 1.
Boys 4x800m Relay team of Joshua Daulton, Taylor Huddleston, Josiah Finley, & Luke Braswell – 1st place with a time of 8:15.51. Ranks #1 in Division 1.
Boys 4x200m Relay team of D’Joryen Jenkins, Aidan Anding, Dylone Brooks, & Malcolm Pierce – 2nd place with a time of 1:31.70. New School Record and Ranks #3 in Division 1.
T’Avion Clark 4th Place Girls 400m Dash with a time of 57.66sec. Ranks #5 in Division 1.
Other State Qualifying performances by the Bearcats this indoor season:
Jacob Miller – Long Jump (20’9” Ranks 12th in Div. 1) and Triple Jump (42’4” Ranks 9th in Div. 1).
Taniyah Johnson – Long Jump (16’9.25” Ranks 6th in Div. 1).
Timiyah Graham – High Jump (4’9” Ranks 12th in Div. 1).
Kaleb Williams – Shot Put (41’11.25” Ranks 16th in Div. 1).
T’Avion Clark – 60m Dash (7.98sec Ranks 13th in Div. 1).
Boys 4x400m Relay team of D’Joryen Jenkins, Malcolm Pierce, Kemondrick Hunter, JaQuincy Bryant (3:32.35sec Ranks 4th in Div. 1)
Girls 4x400m Relay team of Taniyah Johnson, T’Avion Clark, Hallie Hebert, Sydney Owens (4:15.25sec Ranks 8th in Div. 1).
MONROE, La. — Ruston High School’s tennis squad took fourth out of 15 teams at the Bolton Cup over the weekend on the campus of the University of Louisiana-Monroe, with senior GiGi Daughtry and sophomore Lillian Fendley leading the way with a championship in the girls’ doubles main draw competition.
“I’ve got a great group of kids that work hard and it shows,” Ruston High Tennis Coach David Poe said. “I’m very proud of my team and look forward to seeing how well they do this season.”
See highlighted results below:
Senior GiGi Daughtry and sophomore Lillian Fendley – champions, girls’ doubles main draw.
Junior Jake Hawkins – runner up, boys’ singles main draw runner up
Senior Jordan Blount and junior Micah Blount – quarterfinals, boys’ doubles main draw
Senior Myles Hull and senior Cooper Stephenson – quarterfinals, boys’ doubles main draw
Junior Alyssa Langiulli and sophomore Libby Morgan – Round of 16 in the girls’ doubles main draw.
Tucker Batterton (photo courtesy of Snazzy Shenanigans Photography)
Staff Reports
Choudrant Hoops
Carson Carrico scored 24 points, Jackson Ambrose added 13 and Tucker Batterton 10 to lead Choudrant to a 70-46 win over Family Community Christian School Friday night.
With the victory, the Aggies won their eighth straight game and captured the District 2B title.
Choudrant (14-13, 5-0) jumped out to a 20-13 lead after the first quarter as Carrico connected on a trio of three-pointers in the opening quarter while Ambrose netted five points.
The Aggies lead was extended to 37-23 at halftime as Batterton knocked down three buckets in the stanza while Carrico added his fourth three-pointer of the game.
Carrico connected on his fifth and sixth three-pointers in the third quarter with the Aggies outscoring FCCS 20-9 and pushing the lead to 57-32.
Jadon Carroll led FCCS (13-24) with 13 points.
Choudrant will put its win streak on the line Tuesday when it hosts Quitman (22-4).
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Simsboro Hoops
Jakelab Modest netted 23 points to lead Simsboro to a 77-69 win over North Caddo Friday night at SHS Gym.
The Tigers (17-8) won their ninth straight game with their last setback coming a month ago against Arcadia.
Ahmad Smith added 19 points and Jalen Outley 13 points for head coach Adam Wodach’s team which built a 39-31 halftime lead and held on for the win.
Leading 14-12 at the end of the opening eight minutes of action, Simsboro — ranked No. 6 in the Class B power ratings — erupted for 25 points in the second quarter.
Smith scored seven and Modest and Outley each added six points in the frame as the Tigers were able to stretch their lead out to eight at the break.
North Caddo (12-15) trimmed a single point off the lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Tigers 18-17 to close the gap to 56-49 entering the final stanza. Modest led the Tigers with eight points in the frame.
Simsboro was able to pull out its 17th win of the season despite missing 18 free throws in the contest.
Ruston sophomore guard Gioia Tatum (5) shoots a 3-pointer against ASH on Friday. Tatum hit five 3s and scored a team-high 15 points in the Lady Bearcats’ 46-40 loss.Photo by One T Photography
Lady ‘Cats drop key road game against ASH
By Bret H. McCormick
ALEXANDRIA – The Ruston Lady Bearcats really needed a victory Friday night as they looked to move up in the Division I power rankings and secure a playoff berth.
Gioia Tatum nearly shot the Lady ‘Cats to an improbable comeback win.
Tatum knocked down five 3-pointers and scored a team-high 15 points, but it wasn’t quite enough as Ruston (11-13, 1-3 District 2-5A) fell to Alexandria Senior High 46-40.
The sophomore guard’s fifth and final 3 came right at the 3-minute mark in the fourth quarter and cut the Lady Trojans’ lead to just two points, the closest Ruston had been since trailing 9-8 in the first quarter.
ASH (21-6, 3-1) answered with an and-1 by its own sophomore guard, Destiny Vories, to pull ahead 37-32 with 2:47 to play in the game, but Ruston responded less than 10 seconds later with an and-1 by senior Kiersynce McNeal.
The Lady ‘Cats went cold from the field after that, however, as ASH ran off five straight points to take a 42-35 lead and was able to put the game away with late free throws.
Ruston coach LaShanda Cooper said her team’s youth and inexperience played a role in Friday night’s outcome.
“We made some really bad decisions,” said Cooper, whose roster features five sophomores and freshmen.
The two teams traded runs in the first quarter as ASH took a 6-0 lead. Ruston didn’t get on the scoreboard until the 3:32 mark in the quarter when Tatum sparked an 8-0 with two 3-pointers sandwiched around a Bailee Harrison bucket.
The Lady Trojans then ran off 10 points in a row to close the quarter as Cassie Benoit and Thamerin Balthazar knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers and Jamaari Collins turned two steals into two transition baskets to give ASH a 16-6 lead after one quarter.
“We stressed in the beginning that we truly needed this win and we couldn’t get off to a slow start, and that’s what we did,” Cooper said.
Ruston’s offensive struggles, which were exacerbated by nine first-half turnovers, continued in the second quarter as they scored just three points to fall behind 25-11 at the half.
Cooper said a combination of a young team’s early nerves mixed with the atmosphere in the ASH gym along with what the Lady Cats had on the line caused them have some “really bad turnovers early.”
Ruston trailed by as many as 17 in the third quarter before closing on a 9-0 run – sparked again by two Tatum 3-pointers – to cut the lead to 28-20 heading into the final quarter.
Friday night’s loss kept the Lady Bearcats perilously on the postseason bubble as they sat 29th in the power ratings, one spot outside of the playoffs, with road games against Ouachita and West Monroe remaining on the schedule.
“We’ve got to win ‘em all,” Cooper said of the remaining games. “This would have put us in a good position.”
Fourth-quarter collapse costs Bearcats at Alexandria
By Bret H. McCormick
ALEXANDRIA – The Ruston Bearcats looked poised to wrap up the District 2-5A basketball championship Friday night.
They led Alexandria Senior High by seven points after one quarter, opened that lead up to 16 at halftime, and held a comfortable 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Then, it all unraveled.
The Bearcats (14-5, 3-1 District 2-5A) scored just four points in the fourth quarter as ASH (25-5, 4-0) rallied for a 49-44 victory to stay alive in the race for the 2-5A title.
“We just didn’t execute,” said Corey Deans, the Bearcats’ acting head coach.
A battle between two of the state’s top big men – Ruston’s super 6-foot-7 sophomore Ahmad Hudson against ASH’s 6-8 junior Tyshawn Duncan – gave the packed house plenty of big plays and reasons to get out of their seats.
Duncan shook off an uncharacteristically quiet first half to finish with 17 points, including two 3-pointers and three dunks, to go along with four massive blocks that sent the Trojan faithful into a frenzy.
He won the scoring battle against Hudson, who was held to just 11 points, mostly on offensive rebounds and dunks. However, Hudson dominated the glass, finishing with 17 rebounds, and added two blocks and two steals.
Ruston took control early behind the trio of Hudson, fellow sophomore Keshun Malcoln and senior guard Aidan Anding, who combined to score 14 first-quarter points.
Hudson’s dunk with 14 seconds left in the quarter followed by Anding’s buzzer-beater broke open a three-point game. A 3-pointer by sophomore Kohl Gray just over a minute into the second quarter gave the Bearcats a 19-9 lead.
Ruston closed the half with an 11-1 run over the final four minutes to send a dejected Trojan squad to the locker room trailing 30-14.
Duncan, who scored just three points in the first half, and senior guard Jordyn Johnson kept the Trojans within striking distance in the third quarter, combining to score 14 points as ASH nearly cut its deficit to single digits, trailing 40-30 heading into the fourth.
That’s when Johnson, who scored a game-high 18 points, took control of the game, using his speed to slice his way to the rim along with his long-range accuracy to knock down 3-pointers.
His first 3 of the quarter cut the Ruston lead to 42-35 with just over five minutes to play, before Malcolm answered with a reverse layup about a minute later to push the Bearcats’ lead back to nine.
However, Ruston’s offense went scoreless for the final 4:08 of the contest as the Trojans finished the game on a 14-0 run.
Deans said the gameplan was to get the ball inside and finish at the rim. Instead, the Bearcats continued to misfire from the perimeter.
“We just kept shooting the ball,” he said. “… We were in control, but the same shots we were hitting early just didn’t go in.”
Duncan and Johnson each hit a 3-pointer to trim the Ruston lead to three with just under three minutes to play, and Johnson’s crafty finish at the rim over the outstretched arm of Hudson cut the lead to just one with 2:21 to play.
Duncan gave ASH its first lead of the game with 52 seconds remaining when he grabbed an offensive rebound near the free-throw line and threw down a ferocious slam to put the Trojans ahead 45-44.
Ruston still had chances, however, the best of which came when Malcolm missed two free throws with 39 seconds to play that would have given the Bearcats a one-point lead.
Deans lamented that the Bearcats allowed ASH to get easy transition baskets, which led to the Trojans’ comeback.
“As long as we make it a halfcourt game, we win,” he said.
Malcolm finished with 12 points for the Bearcats, who still have a shot at claiming a piece of the District 2-5A title. Ruston closes district play with a road game at West Monroe next Friday, and a win there coupled with an ASH loss at Ouachita would mean a three-way tie for the district title. The Trojans can clinch the title outright with a win against Ouachita.
Katie Hall talks with her team during Friday night’s win over Lincoln Prep. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Girls Hoops
GRAMBLING — Sometimes the difference between an established basketball program and one that is rebuilding from scratch.
That was glaringly obvious Friday night as Lincoln Preparatory School played host to Cedar Creek in a District 1-1A girls hoops showdown inside the LPS Gym.
And because of the difference between the teams, this game was basically over before it started as Cedar Creek (24-3, 5-0) shut out the Lady Panthers in the opening stanza en route to a 50-11 final.
The Lady Cougars roared out to a 23-0 advantage by the end of the first quarter, and continued taking advantage of a plethora of Lincoln Prep turnovers in the second period to build a 39-4 lead by halftime.
Avery Ryan sparked Cedar Creek’s strong start with eight of her game-high 12 points coming early on in the contest while Alivia Lee and Mallory Smith added four points each in the opening quarter.
“I’m proud of our girls and the effort they give,” said Lady Cougars coach Katie Hall. “No matter what the scoreboard says, they’re going to play hard, share the ball and play to our standards. So I was very pleased with their effort tonight.”
Hall added that she was proud of the unwavering focus her team showed from start to finish.
“I’m going to give credit to them,” Hall said. “They love the game. They just play hard. It’s just them. I can’t take credit for that. They just get after it and never let up.”
But despite trailing by an insurmountable lead early on, the Lady Panthers never quit either.
Ajah Saulsberry, who finished with a team-high four points, connected on a running jumper for the first score of the second half that came 32 seconds into the third quarter.
Lincoln Prep added five points in the final eight minutes of the contest, which saw a running clock start before halftime, as the Lady Panthers’ Londyn Barnes, who finished with three points, nailed a long one from behind the arc from the left wing with 3:22 remaining before Kayla Ferguson laid one against the glass and in with 20 seconds left on the clock.
Lady Panthers coach Demetria Keys knew the challenge her team was facing well before opening tip-off.
“We knew our team isn’t at the point that Cedar Creek is at this point, ” Johnson said. “Our girls are really just starting to learn the game. Almost like they’re in school, and tonight they faced a tough lesson.”
The Lady Cougars had nine players on the scoring stat sheet, with Mary Grace Hawkins totaling 11 points, Arlyn Boyet adding seven from inside the paint, Alivia Lee finished with her early four points while Zoey Venters added another four, Caroline James pitched in with three and Britton Bennett and Kennedy Hall added one bucket each.
“I love it when everybody can play and everybody can contribute,” Hall said. “Our fans love to see that, too.
“It’s hard to get quality minutes for everybody to get (in tighter games with starters playing more minutes) as far as conditioning and not just playing each other in practice. So to get everybody quality minutes is just good.”
Next up for the Lady Cougars is the only other undefeated team in district play as Arcadia, which defeated Haynesville 86-9 Friday night, comes to the Brickhouse on Tuesday evening.
Hall believes her team will be ready.
“These girls are playing with confidence and I like where we are,” Hall said.
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Boys Hoops
GRAMBLING — Overall team health is a crucial factor for any sports team, especially late in the season.
And as Cedar Creek traveled a few miles southwest Friday night to play at Lincoln Prep in a District 1-1A boys basketball matchup, the Panthers were healthy and the Cougars weren’t.
The result was a 63-28 home win for Lincoln Prep inside the LPS Gym.
Cedar Creek was playing without three of its starters, including leading scorer Canon Robbins, now out for the season after breaking both elbows suffered last week in a loss to Ringgold. The Cougars were also without Jack Bell (illness) and Jake Terry (undisclosed).
That fact wasn’t lost on Panthers coach Antonio Hudson.
“We changed our game plan when we found out they had three starters out because we knew we had to press hard,” Hudson said. “But I really hate it, because (Cedar Creek coach Lance) Waldron really had those guys playing well over there and they had a chance to make some noise in the postseason. I guess that’s just basketball.
“I feel sorry for those kids. I feel bad for them. Robbins is a senior, and I feel bad for any kid like that because not being able to finish their senior year is tough. And we all know it would have been a much better Cedar Creek team we faced tonight if they would have been out there.”
Lincoln Prep opened with a 8-2 run in the first 2:01 of the contest with the “Brothers Spann” — junior Trey Spann and sophomore Josiah Spann each nailing 3-pointers, Josiah from the wing and Trey from above the key.
“Josiah can score the ball,” Hudson said. “He can score at a high rate. With him, we just have to figure out a way to get him in and use him defensively. But no exaggeration, he’s probably the best all-around scorer that we have — he’s shifty with the basketball, he can shoot the basketball, he’s crafty around the rim.
“He still needs to find ways to get those shots off, but he’s going to be a really good player as he gains more and more experience. But just him gaining added confidence heading into the playoffs is big for our whole team.”
The Panthers marched out to a 19-9 advantage by the end of the first quarter before outsourcing the Cougars 21-8 in the second to push their lead to 51-23 at halftime.
That didn’t deter Waldron from being proud of his team’s effort from opening tip to the final buzzer.
“I thought we did a real good job of sharing the ball and moving the ball around,” Waldron said. “That was one of our goals going in. We’ve been working on it a lot, but it just so happens that we lost three starters. And we weren’t able to do it, especially with all the pressure Lincoln Prep brings.
“But I was really proud of the way we handled that and kept our emotions in check and didn’t get in a hurry.”
Both Spanns recorded double-doubles for the Panthers, with Trey hitting for 16 points while also chalking up eight rebounds and Josiah scoring 12.
Zion Hicks added 10 points for the Panthers while Hicks chipped in with four.
Cedar Creek was led by Cameron Temple with seven points while Brett Bell and Zack Waldron added six each for the Panthers and Lance Waldron totaled five.
“I’m really excited about the future and this team going forward,” Lance Waldon said. “We’ve got to plug some holes, you know we’ve had an injury or two, and some of the other guys stepped up and I think we’re going to see a lot of progress.
“We’ve had to shift gears because we’ve been relying on some heavy scoring by Cannon and we don’t have that anymore. So we have to change what we do and it’s going to take a little bit of time for us to do it. But after tonight, I’m really excited about what’s going on.”
Cedar Creek (12-7, 2-3 in District 1-1A) will next play host to Arcadia on Tuesday while Lincoln Prep (20-7, 4-1) will play at Plain Dealing that same night.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Monday, Feb. 10 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 6-9 p.m.: Creative Meetups (Creatives at Work, 301 N. Trenton)
Tuesday, Feb 11 7 p.m.: Lincoln Parish Police Jury meeting (Lincoln Parish Courthouse)
Wednesday, Feb. 12 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Thursday, Feb. 13 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 9:30 a.m.: Piney Hills Quilt Guild (Grace Methodist Church) 6:30 p.m.: GSU women’s basketball 6:30 p.m.: LA Tech men’s basketball
Friday, Feb. 14 Valentine’s Day 4 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 6 p.m.: LA Tech softball
Saturday, Feb. 15 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market Noon: LA Tech baseball Noon: Grambling Black History parade 2 p.m.: GSU women’s basketball 3 p.m.: LA Tech basketball 3 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 4:30: GSU men’s basketball 7 p.m.: LA Tech softball
Sunday, Feb. 16 1 p.m.: LA Tech baseball 4 p.m.: LA Tech softball 7 p.m.: LA Tech softball
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.
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications/Staff Reports
Men’s Basketball
Having not won on the road in two months, Louisiana Tech head coach Talvin Hester decided to make a change in the starting lineup with the insertion of AJ Bates.
All the freshman did was play the entire 40 minutes, scoring 19 points and dishing out seven assists in the process as LA Tech defeated FIU, 82-71, on Saturday afternoon inside the FIU Convocation Center.
“We knew FIU was going to press and so we needed to put more ball handling in the game,” said Hester. “He has done a great job of taking care of the basketball this season, so I went to him. I did not know what I would get as far as offensive production, but I could tell when he was out there, he was following our scout. Excited about his performance.”
Bates was also stellar on the defensive end, recording four rebounds and three steals. Also stepping up was Amaree Abram who also had four boards and three steals to go along with his game-high 20 points as LA Tech (17-7, 6-5 CUSA) never trailed. This after not having one single lead two days prior at Liberty.
LA Tech shot a blistering 60.8 percent from the field (31-51), 45.0 percent from three-point range (9-20), and 84.6 percent from the foul line (11-13). Batcho and Devin Ree were the two other Bulldogs in double figures with 17 and 10 points, respectively.
FIU shot 41.9 percent from the field (26-62) and had four Panthers score double-digit points, led by Jayden Brewer with 15.
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Women’s Basketball
Four Louisiana Tech women’s basketball players scored in double figures as the Lady Techsters beat FIU 69-59 to win for the ninth consecutive time inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Saturday.
Paris Bradley led Tech (13-9, 6-5 CUSA) with 17 points while adding five rebounds and four assists. Jordan Marshall had her sixth double-double with 16 points and 15 boards. Jianna Morris chipped in 15, and Robyn Lee had 12 points.
“I’m really proud of how the team closed out the game today,” said Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr. “They made their run in the 3rd and our group dug in and found a way to get stops and executed offensively. I felt like we were getting some really good looks in that 3rd quarter and they just didn’t go down for us. They remained composed and never let them take the lead.
“Jianna nailed a 3 when they tied it at 53, and we were able to close it out with a nice 16-6 run. I’m really proud of the toughness and resolve this group showed at home this week. We’ll recover and get prepared to hit the road next week”
Louisiana Tech finished 39.7 percent from the field, 22.2 percent from long range, and 68.4 percent from the charity stripe.
FIU shot 41.1 percent for the game but just 26.7 percent from deep and 64.3 percent from the line. Natabou finished with a game-high 26 points and added nine rebounds. Bineta Diatta had 13 points, and Aaliyah Pitts added 11.
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Softball
Louisiana Tech pulled one of the biggest upsets of opening weekend as the Bulldogs defeated 4th ranked Oklahoma State 6-1 in one of their two wins at the highly-competitive Puerta Vallarta Challenge.
It was Tech’s first win against a Top 10 ranked team since 2008.
Tech also defeated NCAA Regional team Northern Colorado 9-4 in the opener on Thursday. The Bulldogs would fall 6-3 and 9-1 to 9th ranked Florida State and 8-4 to North Colorado.
“This team has a lot of fight in them,” said head coach Josh Taylor. “Overall, we are really happy with the weekend. We played five games against regional teams, three against top 10 ranked teams. I think we competed in every game. We are just going to get better and better as we go.
“Obviously, the win against the No. 4 team in the nation is a big win for us, and it definitely helps us with confidence. We’re disappointed in the outcome today, however we’re not disappointed in our competitive nature and we think we made our university and hometown proud this week. This season is looking very bright for us.”
Allie Floyd and Nicole Hammoude earned all-tournament team honors. Floyd pitched complete-games in the wins over Oklahoma State and Northern Colorado while Hammoude batted .500 on the weekend with a team-high 4 RBI.
Tech hosts Arkansas Friday at 6 p.m. in the first game of its three-day home tournament at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
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Tennis
Louisiana Tech claimed two three-setters in singles to cap off a dramatic 4-3 victory over North Texas on a windy Saturday afternoon at the LA Tech Tennis Complex.
LA Tech (7-2) continued its strong doubles play as of late to take the opening point and then combined that with hard-fought singles wins on courts one, three, and six to defeat North Texas (3-3) for the first time since 1986.
“Today’s win came down to heart and grit,” said head coach Amy Sargeant. “This team thrived on physicality, toughness, and an unwavering will to win. We knew going into the match it would probably come down to the doubles point. Our focus was to play with confidence and to have a poach-first mindset. Winning that doubles point carried the momentum over into singles, which we knew was going to be a battle.”
Ana Rodrigues and Zoie Epps came into the match having won four straight at the No. 1 position. They made it five straight after pulling out a 6-4 victory.
The Mean Green countered with a win at No. 3, meaning the crucial doubles point would come down to the No. 2 spot where Maria Tsironi and Alice Brook were taking on Lilly Schultz and Stanisla Shulzhenko. The Bulldog freshmen rose to the occasion, breaking serve on the deuce point to also win, 6-4.
Brook, Rodrigues and Tsironi all won their singles matches to help give Tech a win over the Mean Green.
Grambling State guard Kintavious Dozier scored a season-high 30 points to lead Grambling State to a 77-67 win over Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) foe Alabama State at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome on Saturday afternoon.
Dozier was a marksman from behind the arc, scoring 21 of his points from three-point range. He went 9-for-15 from field and 7-of-11 from deep. He added three rebounds and steal to his tally.
Mikale Stevenson was also big on the offensive end for the Tigers, contributing 15 points with four assists, three boards and two steals.
PJ Eason and Antwan Burnett were strong on the glass, both grabbing 10 rebounds apiece in the victory.
Grambling State (7-16 overall, 4-6 SWAC) played from in front for much of game, having a response for every Alabama State run.
Leading 20-18 with 7:25 remaining until halftime, the Tigers began to put pressure on ASU (9-14, 5-5). Dozier knocked down 3-pointer to give GSU a 23-18 cushion. Emeka Nnaji followed that with a transition dunk to make it 25-18.
Grambling State led 38-28 at halftime.
After the Tigers stretched its lead to 43-30 with 16:48 on the left in the game, ASU used an 11-4 run to cut the lead to 47-41. GSU quickly extinguished that run, using a 9-1 spurt, punctuated by another triple from Dozier, to go up 56-42 with 11:19 to go.
Grambling State snagged its largest lead of the game, 65-48, on a layup by Nnaji at the 7:13 mark.
The Hornets did their best to try to keep pace but couldn’t close the gap to any more than five points.
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Women’s Basketball
Grambling State secured a crucial 70-61 victory over Alabama State on Saturday afternoon in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) battle at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
With the win, Grambling State improves to 9-13 overall and 6-5 in SWAC play, while Alabama State falls to 5-18 overall and 3-8 in the conference standings.
Kahia Warmsley led the charge for Grambling State, scoring a team-high 16 points while adding four steals, two rebounds, and an assist.
Lydia Freeman was dominant in limited minutes, going a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points.
Alyssa Phillip provided a strong presence off the bench with 12 points and five rebounds, while Shaniah Nunn contributed 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists.
Grambling State jumped out to an early 20-18 lead after the first quarter and maintained a 36-34 advantage heading into halftime.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point, as the Tigers outscored Alabama State 19-16 behind efficient shooting, including their only three-pointer of the game.
The Tigers defense took over in the final period, holding Alabama State to just 25 percent shooting from the field. Grambling State capitalized at the free-throw line, knocking down 9-of-10 attempts in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Alabama State was led by Kaitlyn Bryant, who scored a game-high 19 points on 9-of-18 shooting. Taylor Smith added 12 points and four rebounds, while Ashley Gray chipped in 10 points off the bench.
Funeral services for Jerry Paul Hunter, age 84 of Arcadia, LA, will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, February 10, 2025 at Owens Memorial Chapel with Rev. Rick Walters officiating. Burial will follow in Ansley Cemetery in Ansley, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.
Jerry was born December 6, 1940 in Monahans, Texas to Johnny Hunter and Helen Hardy and he left this earth Tuesday, February 4, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Aaron Hunter, John Wayne Hunter, and Micheal Hunter; son, Lee Edwin Hunter; and son-in-law’s: John Allen and Ricky Springfield.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 60 years, Fredia Mae Hunter; son, Jerry Hunter; daughters: Francis Hunter, Sandy Hunter, and Tina Maxwell and husband Mitch; brothers: Richard Hunter, Percy Hardy, and Mark Hardy; sister, Gail Hunter; grandchildren: Paul Hunter, Clint Allen, Josh Springfield, Hunter Springfield, Clayton Allen, and Zane Maxwell; great grandchildren: Coltan Allen, Caleb Allen, Mary Jane Springfield, and Ricky Springfield; numerous nephews and nieces, and a host of other family and friends.
Jerry was a veteran of the United States Army, joining on November 21,1958 and he was honorably discharged on October 31,1964. He did a tour in South Korea. Once he came back to the states, he started his career in the Oil and Gas Industry. Jerry started off on a work over rig, but quickly worked his way up the ranks. He became a District Manager for Poole Well Services, and chose Ruston, LA to set up his office in 1974. Later he would go on to be the Operations Manager for Hyde Oil and Gas. Afterwards, he took all his knowledge of the industry and become a Petroleum Consultant for 20 years, finally retiring from the industry in 2008. Jerry stayed active after retiring, operating his own lawncare service for another 10 years.
Jerry loved his family more than anything and held a deep connection with each of his family members. He loved to cook fish and have the whole family get together. Jerry would often have his grandchildren over to spend the night and wake up before dawn to prepare homemade biscuits and gravy for them for breakfast. He instilled a strong work ethic and was very proud of his family. Jerry loved the outdoors, as he was an avid fisherman and hunter, he had a wonderful wit, and loved to engage with family. His home was always filled with laughter.
Pallbearers will be Paul Hunter, Clint Allen, Hunter Springfield, Clayton Allen, Robbie Hunter, and Jeffery Trevillion. Honorary Pallbearer is Josh Springfield.
A visitation is scheduled from 9:00-10:00 AM Monday, February 10, 2025, at Owens Memorial Chapel.
Anita Howard Gray August 19, 1946 – February 6, 2025 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Friday, February 14, 2025, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Service: Alabama Presbyterian Church, Saturday, February 15, 2025, 10:00 am
Sarah Singleton Howard Friday 09/08/1922 — Thursday 02/06/2025 Visitation: Friday 02/14/2025 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 02/15/2025 11:00am, New Prosperity Baptist Church, 1378 Prosperity Church Road, Clay Interment: Saturday 02/15/2025 Following Service, New Prosperity Cemetery, Clay
Jerry Paul Hunter December 6, 1940 – February 4, 2025 Visitation: Monday, February 10, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Service: Monday, February 10, 2025, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Cemetery Committal: Monday, February 10, 2025, Ansley Cemetery, Ansley Road, Ruston
Jakelab Modest netted 23 points to lead Simsboro to a 77-69 win over North Caddo Friday night at SHS Gym.
The Tigers (17-8) won their ninth straight game with their last setback coming a month ago against Arcadia.
Ahmad Smith added 19 points and Jalen Outley 13 points for head coach Adam Wodach’s team which built a 39-31 halftime lead and held on for the win.
Leading 14-12 at the end of the opening eight minutes of action, Simsboro — ranked No. 6 in the Class B power ratings — erupted for 25 points in the second quarter.
Smith scored seven and Modest and Outley each added six points in the frame as the Tigers were able to stretch their lead out to eight at the break.
North Caddo (12-15) trimmed a single point off the lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Tigers 18-17 to close the gap to 56-49 entering the final stanza. Modest led the Tigers with eight points in the frame.
Simsboro was able to pull out its 17th win of the season despite missing 18 free throws in the contest.
Tucker Batterton (photo courtesy of Snazzy Shenanigans Photography)
Staff Reports
Carson Carrico scored 24 points, Jackson Ambrose added 13 and Tucker Batterton 10 to lead Choudrant to a 70-46 win over Family Community Christian School Friday night.
With the victory, the Aggies won their eighth straight game and captured the District 2B title.
Choudrant (14-13, 5-0) jumped out to a 20-13 lead after the first quarter as Carrico connected on a trio of three-pointers in the opening quarter while Ambrose netted five points.
The Aggies lead was extended to 37-23 at halftime as Batterton knocked down three buckets in the stanza while Carrico added his fourth three-pointer of the game.
Carrico connected on his fifth and sixth three-pointers in the third quarter with the Aggies outscoring FCCS 20-9 and pushing the lead to 57-32.
Jadon Carroll led FCCS (13-24) with 13 points.
Choudrant will put its win streak on the line Tuesday when it hosts Quitman (22-4).
Ruston sophomore Kohl Gray (23) drives to the basket against ASH’s Marcus Bolden (4) during the Bearcats’ 49-44 loss on Friday.Photo by One T Photography
By Bret H. McCormick
ALEXANDRIA – The Ruston Bearcats looked poised to wrap up the District 2-5A basketball championship Friday night.
They led Alexandria Senior High by seven points after one quarter, opened that lead up to 16 at halftime, and held a comfortable 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Then, it all unraveled.
The Bearcats (14-5, 3-1 District 2-5A) scored just four points in the fourth quarter as ASH (25-5, 4-0) rallied for a 49-44 victory to stay alive in the race for the 2-5A title.
“We just didn’t execute,” said Corey Deans, the Bearcats’ acting head coach.
A battle between two of the state’s top big men – Ruston’s super 6-foot-7 sophomore Ahmad Hudson against ASH’s 6-8 junior Tyshawn Duncan – gave the packed house plenty of big plays and reasons to get out of their seats.
Duncan shook off an uncharacteristically quiet first half to finish with 17 points, including two 3-pointers and three dunks, to go along with four massive blocks that sent the Trojan faithful into a frenzy.
He won the scoring battle against Hudson, who was held to just 11 points, mostly on offensive rebounds and dunks. However, Hudson dominated the glass, finishing with 17 rebounds, and added two blocks and two steals.
Ruston took control early behind the trio of Hudson, fellow sophomore Keshun Malcoln and senior guard Aidan Anding, who combined to score 14 first-quarter points.
Hudson’s dunk with 14 seconds left in the quarter followed by Anding’s buzzer-beater broke open a three-point game. A 3-pointer by sophomore Kohl Gray just over a minute into the second quarter gave the Bearcats a 19-9 lead.
Ruston closed the half with an 11-1 run over the final four minutes to send a dejected Trojan squad to the locker room trailing 30-14.
Duncan, who scored just three points in the first half, and senior guard Jordyn Johnson kept the Trojans within striking distance in the third quarter, combining to score 14 points as ASH nearly cut its deficit to single digits, trailing 40-30 heading into the fourth.
That’s when Johnson, who scored a game-high 18 points, took control of the game, using his speed to slice his way to the rim along with his long-range accuracy to knock down 3-pointers.
His first 3 of the quarter cut the Ruston lead to 42-35 with just over five minutes to play, before Malcolm answered with a reverse layup about a minute later to push the Bearcats’ lead back to nine.
However, Ruston’s offense went scoreless for the final 4:08 of the contest as the Trojans finished the game on a 14-0 run.
Deans said the gameplan was to get the ball inside and finish at the rim. Instead, the Bearcats continued to misfire from the perimeter.
“We just kept shooting the ball,” he said. “… We were in control, but the same shots we were hitting early just didn’t go in.”
Duncan and Johnson each hit a 3-pointer to trim the Ruston lead to three with just under three minutes to play, and Johnson’s crafty finish at the rim over the outstretched arm of Hudson cut the lead to just one with 2:21 to play.
Duncan gave ASH its first lead of the game with 52 seconds remaining when he grabbed an offensive rebound near the free-throw line and threw down a ferocious slam to put the Trojans ahead 45-44.
Ruston still had chances, however, the best of which came when Malcolm missed two free throws with 39 seconds to play that would have given the Bearcats a one-point lead.
Deans lamented that the Bearcats allowed ASH to get easy transition baskets, which led to the Trojans’ comeback.
“As long as we make it a halfcourt game, we win,” he said.
Malcolm finished with 12 points for the Bearcats, who still have a shot at claiming a piece of the District 2-5A title. Ruston closes district play with a road game at West Monroe next Friday, and a win there coupled with an ASH loss at Ouachita would mean a three-way tie for the district title. The Trojans can clinch the title outright with a win against Ouachita.
Ruston senior Samiya Lewis (3) drives to the basket against ASH’s Tytiana Jackson (21) during the Lady Bearcats’ 46-40 loss on Friday. Photo by One T Photography
By Bret H. McCormick
ALEXANDRIA – The Ruston Lady Bearcats really needed a victory Friday night as they looked to move up in the Division I power rankings and secure a playoff berth.
Gioia Tatum nearly shot the Lady ‘Cats to an improbable comeback win.
Tatum knocked down five 3-pointers and scored a team-high 15 points, but it wasn’t quite enough as Ruston (11-13, 1-3 District 2-5A) fell to Alexandria Senior High 46-40.
The sophomore guard’s fifth and final 3 came right at the 3-minute mark in the fourth quarter and cut the Lady Trojans’ lead to just two points, the closest Ruston had been since trailing 9-8 in the first quarter.
ASH (21-6, 3-1) answered with an and-1 by its own sophomore guard, Destiny Vories, to pull ahead 37-32 with 2:47 to play in the game, but Ruston responded less than 10 seconds later with an and-1 by senior Kiersynce McNeal.
The Lady ‘Cats went cold from the field after that, however, as ASH ran off five straight points to take a 42-35 lead and was able to put the game away with late free throws.
Ruston coach LaShanda Cooper said her team’s youth and inexperience played a role in Friday night’s outcome.
“We made some really bad decisions,” said Cooper, whose roster features five sophomores and freshmen.
The two teams traded runs in the first quarter as ASH took a 6-0 lead. Ruston didn’t get on the scoreboard until the 3:32 mark in the quarter when Tatum sparked an 8-0 with two 3-pointers sandwiched around a Bailee Harrison bucket.
The Lady Trojans then ran off 10 points in a row to close the quarter as Cassie Benoit and Thamerin Balthazar knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers and Jamaari Collins turned two steals into two transition baskets to give ASH a 16-6 lead after one quarter.
“We stressed in the beginning that we truly needed this win and we couldn’t get off to a slow start, and that’s what we did,” Cooper said.
Ruston’s offensive struggles, which were exacerbated by nine first-half turnovers, continued in the second quarter as they scored just three points to fall behind 25-11 at the half.
Cooper said a combination of a young team’s early nerves mixed with the atmosphere in the ASH gym along with what the Lady Cats had on the line caused them have some “really bad turnovers early.”
Ruston trailed by as many as 17 in the third quarter before closing on a 9-0 run – sparked again by two Tatum 3-pointers – to cut the lead to 28-20 heading into the final quarter.
Friday night’s loss kept the Lady Bearcats perilously on the postseason bubble as they sat 29th in the power ratings, one spot outside of the playoffs, with road games against Ouachita and West Monroe remaining on the schedule.
“We’ve got to win ‘em all,” Cooper said of the remaining games. “This would have put us in a good position.”
