RUSTON, La. — Bearcats coaches, players and fans all gathered Monday night at the Ruston Civic Center for the annual banquet to honor the 2024 season and celebrate the continued success of the football program.
“This is enjoyable for the kids, primarily the seniors,” Ruston High School Head Football Coach Jerrod Baugh said. “It’s the opportunity for those guys to get together as a group and really reminisce on this football season along with their football careers.
“Hopefully, it’s an opportunity for them to think about all the things that they got from our football program through the years and their spot in the Ruston High School football program legacy.”
Following a meal and a highlight video by the Bearcat Nation Network, Baugh honored the seniors, spirit groups and the rest of the players and support staff within the program.
Individual awards were then given (listed below), as were the list of all-district, all-area, all-state teams, scholastic awards and letter winners. At the conclusion, senior defensive lineman (and four-year letter winner) Payton Bell led the seniors in gifting Baugh a framed picture as a thank you. The senior football players led the crowd in the Alma Mater.
For senior linebacker Zheric Hill, the banquet is something he has looked forward to each year — and while this is his final one as a Bearcat, he’ll be right down the road playing college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and still keeping tabs on the football team he dearly loves.
”It’s bittersweet, because these are four years I’ll never forget,” Hill said. “We look forward to this as a team. It’s where you and your brother get to cheer on each other — I can’t believe this is my last one. I hope one day my kids will get to be here and have it all come back around. But I’ll be right down the road (at Louisiana Tech) and I’ll be watching.”
Baugh added how thankful he was for the community response coming out to support the team at the banquet and how the fans have backed the team during the three runs to the state championship game.
”For the past few years in particular, it’s been really good to see fans come out,” Baugh said. “We’ve had a very good turnout. From game to Bearcat Madness and the auctions that we’ve had — turnout has been good. There’s still a lot of excitement with our football program. Hopefully, it will be the same down the road.
”I can’t promise we’ll be in the state championship every year, but I hope that everyone has seen that their support for this football program goes a long way. Our kids are used to seeing this community show up and support them.”
Award winners Michael Parker Coaches Award: Garrett Taylor, DL Fred Dean Booster Club Scholarship: Morgan Wells, DL Greg “Big Coach” Williams Scholarship: Payton Bell, DL Bearcat Football Club Scholarship: Fabian Stringfellow, DB Jack Lindsey Memorial Scholarship: Zander Hayes, LB Chick Childress Defensive MVP: Zheric Hill, LB Hoss Garrett Offensive MVP: Josh Brantley, QB Special Teams MVP: Aidan Anding, DB/Returner Permanent Offensive Captain: Josh Brantley, QB Permanent Defensive Captain: Zheric Hill, LB Permanent Special Teams Captain: Jack Elliott, K
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Cedar Creek saw 10 competitors earn a spot on the podium this weekend while competing at a powerlifting meet hosted by D’Arbonne Woods.
“It was a solid day for our kids,” said Creek head coach Jacob Angevine.
The Cougars, Lady Cougars and all the participating teams had to overcome a little adversity during the event, as the electricity went out according to Angevine.
“Josh Barham, a 2004 Cedar Creek alum and powerlifting standout, and D’Arbonne Woods put on a heck of a meet despite the power going out for about an hour or so,” said Angevine. “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen that happen.
“However, it’s a great lesson to our kids to be able to adapt. The kids in the first flight got a chance to re-warm up. In 2019, we had a kid that to had adjust due to the fire alarm being pulled at the state meet. She ended up winning state that year. Maybe it’s a good omen for us.”
Chandler Bullock was the lone Cedar Creek lifter who won his respective weight class as he finished first in the super heavy weight division with a three-lift total of 1,265 pounds. It was Bullock’s first medal in the sport.
On the girls side, Marley Jinks also garnered her first ever medal in the sport, finishing second in the 123-pound class with a total of 610 pounds.
“That was fun getting to watch them get on the podium,” said Angevine.
The next event will be a dual meet with D’Arbonne Woods on February 6th.
Louisiana Tech head football coach Sonny Cumbie announced two new additions to the team’s coaching staff on Friday afternoon, as Carlton Buckels and Josh Creech will join the staff for the upcoming 2025 season.
Buckels will serve as the cornerbacks coach/defensive pass game coordinator, while Creech will coach the linebackers.
Buckels, who brings over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience to Ruston, arrives after a two-year stint as the cornerbacks coach at TCU. The Louisiana native coached NFL Draft picks in each of his first two seasons with the Horned Frogs.
“Coach Buckels brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our staff,” stated Cumbie. “He’s coached NFL draft picks, a Jim Thorpe Award winner, won Big 12 championships, coached in the National Championship, all the while helping develop young men on and off the field. Carlton has ties to this state and will help elevate our football program this fall!”
In 2022, Buckels mentored Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson into becoming the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s top defensive back and a sixth-round selection by the Los Angeles Rams. The 2023 campaign saw Josh Newton earn All-Big 12 honors for the second straight year en route to being a fifth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Buckels arrived in Fort Worth after spending for years at Tulsa (2018-21). He served as the safeties coach during his first three years with the Golden Hurricane, before being promoted to the defensive passing game coordinator and moving to cornerbacks for the 2021 season.
He came to Tulsa following one season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss.
Buckels’ collegiate coaching stops have included Delta State (2001-02), Southeastern Louisiana (2003-04), New Mexico State (2005-07), North Texas (2009-10) and Baylor (2011-16). In the summer of 2010, Buckels worked with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders coaching staff as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship Program.
Buckels received his start in collegiate coaching at his alma mater, LSU, where he served as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban and Gerry Dinardo. He worked with the defense and special teams while earning his master’s degree in 2001.
A native of Louisiana, Buckels played collegiately at LSU and coached high school football in the state.
Creech comes to Ruston after spending the 2024 season as the defensive coordinator at Midway High School in Waco, Texas.
“Josh is a third-generation football coach that has been around the game his entire life,” said Cumbie. “Josh has a great track record in developing linebackers and coaching defense at a high level. Josh’s experience and background will help our linebackers and defense continue to play at a high level.”
Prior to joining the staff at Midway HS, Creech spent six seasons as a defensive analyst at SMU (2018-21) and TCU (2022-23). During his time at SMU, Creech worked with linebackers during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, before moving to the back end to work with safeties in 2020.
In 2019, Creech was part of a defense that ranked No. 1 in the FBS for sacks per game (3.92) and in the top three in tackles for loss (8.5). The Mustangs forced 21 turnovers in 2019, ranking 34th nationally and fourth in the conference. The number included 12 fumble recoveries, which ranked in the top 10 of the FBS.
Creech helped mentor all-conference selection Pat Nelson, who set SMU’s single-season sacks record with 12.0 in 2019. In 2018, Creech helped mentor Richard Moore, who earned AAC honorable mention after registering 92 tackles, 13.5 TFLs and had a team-leading 5.0 sacks.
Creech arrived in Dallas after a four-year stint as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss. During his time with the Blazers, Creech saw 10 of his players recognized as All-NCAA selections.
In 2014, Creech’s pass defense ranked 15th in the NAIA, allowing just 166.4 yards per game. Creech’s 3-3-5 defense also ranked 19th in the NAIA in total sacks with 28 on the season. The Blazers defense also kept opponents to just a 33.8 percent conversion rate on third downs, ranking 30th in the NAIA. The Green and Gold also set a school record in total tackles that season, recording 771.
Prior to his time at Belhaven, Creech spent three years as an assistant coach in Texas at McMurry (2011-13). Creech join the War Hawks football staff as an assistant offensive line coach and video coordinator for the 2011 season and spent time working with the long snappers. In 2012, Creech moved to the defensive side of the ball where he served as the linebackers coach while still assisting with long snappers and returners in the special teams game.
Creech began his collegiate coaching career at the University of New Haven where he was the assistant linebackers coach, while also helping with video as a graduate assistant. The Chargers won the Northeast-10 Conference in Creech’s lone season on staff.
Creech received his bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University in criminal justice and then went on to earn his master’s degree in National Security from the University of New Haven in 2010.
A Celebration of Life Service for Jane Fuller Ball, 86, will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday, February 2, 2025, in the Burkhalter Chapel at Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston, LA. Reverend Doug de Graffenried will officiate the service under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Ruston, LA.
A Visitation for family and friends will be 1:00 P.M. prior to the service.
Jane passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 1, 2025, with her loving husband, James Ball, by her side. She was born September 26, 1938, in Ruston, Louisiana to Robert and Margaret Fuller. Jane enjoyed Ruston life of music, family, clubs and many friends. Jane, a Ruston High Graduate, met her husband James “Jimmy” Ball who was attending Louisiana Tech University. Jim and Jane married at Trinity United Methodist Church August 29,1957. They were blessed with two wonderful children Margaret “Meg” Bullock and Robert Ball. She was a caring wife, mother, and grandmother. Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Margaret Fuller.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, James (Jimmy) Ball; children Robert (Alicia) Ball of Ruston, LA, Meg (Doug) Bullock of Owensboro, KY and her grandchildren Brandon Ball, Molly Thornton (fiancé Aaron Leach), Chris (Katie) Bullock and Dylan Bullock. She was also blessed with great grand children Ellison Rae Bullock and Benjamin James Bullock.
Family was important to Jane her entire life. Although an only child, she had beloved cousins who filled family gathering with joy.
Jane was appointed to the Louisiana State Music Commission and Jim and Jane were inducted into the Louisiana State Music Hall of Fame. She accompanied Jimmy for many years performing throughout Louisiana including the World’s Fair of 1984, Louisiana Hayride and many other historic functions.
Jane enjoyed her time as a member of many Ruston Clubs including Junior Guild, Garden Club, PTO and Louisiana Tech Alumni Association. During her time at Tech she pledged to Kappa Delta Sorority, in her later years Jane remained faithful to the sorority with donations, attendance to events and well wishes.
Jane was known for her beautiful smile, love of people and most of all her love for animals. Over the years Jane has rescued many animals, including the time she stopped a school bus on Highway 167 North to rescue a kitten to the cheers of many school children.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to the Methodist Children’s Home or a Cancer foundation of your choosing.
Dr. Robert Earl Puddy, affectionately known as Bob, passed away on January 20, 2025, at the age of 82. Born on December 24, 1942, in Ruston, Louisiana, he spent his final years in Peachtree City, Georgia, surrounded by family and friends.
Bob was a dedicated family man, happily married to his childhood sweetheart, Lynda Fay Puddy, for 59 wonderful years. Together, they raised two sons, Robert Kevin Puddy and Christopher Brett Puddy, who married Nikki Puddy and Tara Puddy, respectively. He was a proud grandfather of Lauren and Austin Puddy and a loving great-grandfather to Nathan and Carter Puddy.
A devoted member of Flat Creek Baptist Church, Bob was known for his strong faith and commitment to serving his community. He was actively involved in various organizations, including the Lions Club, Rotary Club, and Gideons International. He also made significant contributions to health and education, having served as science coordinator at the University of South Carolina and Dean of Health Sciences at both the University of New Hampshire and Clayton State College and University finishing his career as Associate Vice President of health and science division at Florence technical College.
Bob’s academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech, followed by a Ph.D. in anatomy and physiology from the University of Houston. His proud accomplishments included serving on the board of directors for multiple health organizations and competing in the Senior Olympics, where he garnered 37 All-American awards and set shot put and javelin records across several states as well as a gold in international competition.
An avid traveler with a love for sports, Bob enjoyed exploring the world, (including all 50 states and 28 countries ) and was a passionate advocate for fitness and competition. His kind-hearted nature, unwavering faith, and dedication to family and community made him a role model to many.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lynda, his two sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The legacy of Dr. Robert Earl Puddy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
Visitation was held on Sunday, January 26, at 2pm with a service that followed at Mowell Funeral Home in Fayetteville.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request donations to the St Jude Children’s Hospital or Gideons international in honor Dr. Robert Puddy.
Barbara Ann Knight McKaskle July 20, 1934 – January 20, 2025 Visitation: Burkhalter Chapel at Trinity Methodist Church, Saturday, February 15, 2025, 1:00 pm Service: Burkhalter Chapel at Trinity Methodist Church, Saturday, February 15, 2025, 2:00 pm Reception: Burkhalter Chapel at Trinity Methodist Church, Saturday, February 15, 2025
The examination to test applicants for the impending vacancy of the Ruston police chief position is currently being graded, according to the Office of State Examiner, Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service System.
“The competitive exam for Ruston was given on January 15 and is currently being graded by this office,” Misty C. McAfee, an administrative program director with the Office of the State Examiner said Friday.
Current chief Steve Rogers has announced his retirement effective February 21 after 17 years in the position and 37 years in law enforcement.
Applications to take the test were taken by the state board from November 20 to December 20. A number of current Ruston Police employees and external candidates applied.
“Once this exam is graded,” McAfee said, “the grades are sent directly to the Ruston Civil Service Board for approval and certification of scores. Once the Board certifies the grades, the eligibility list will be updated by the Ruston Civil Service Board.”
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said he will begin interviews after that point with the final decision up to a vote by the Ruston City Council.
Walker said he hopes to have a new chief hired before Rogers’s last day, but an interim chief will be appointed if that is not possible.
Members of the A.E. Phillips student council met with Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker during a recent field trip. (Courtesy Photo)
by Hanna Singh
The student council members of A.E. Phillips Laboratory School took an exciting field trip this week to the office of Mayor Ronny Walker, where they spent the day learning about leadership from the people that lead the city of Ruston.
The student council, all aspiring future leaders themselves, were given the opportunity to sit in on a leadership meeting with Walker and a team of city officials including the police chief, fire chief and other prominent community leaders. For about an hour and a half, they watched the group discuss key city operations and upcoming projects.
The visit was part of an effort by the A.E. Phillips student council to connect with leaders throughout Lincoln Parish, organized by co-sponsors Lori Kelly and Lorin Pipes. Several times a year, the group hears from local community and state leaders, getting to understand the secrets of leadership from those who know best. Principal of A.E. Phillips, Jenny Blalock, highlighted the importance of the students connecting with prominent local leaders.
“We desire for our students to grow into leaders in their community,” Blalock said. “A vision of Mrs. Kelly’s is to connect our students with as many leaders in our community and state as possible in order to learn from them.”
Following the meeting, the students participated in a 30-minute Q&A session with Mayor Walker, where they were given the opportunity to ask any questions they wanted. They were eager to hear from the mayor about exciting new developments happening in Ruston. President of the student council, Nolan Hogan, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity.
“Visiting the office of mayor walker was an eye-opening experience. We learned about the past, present, and future of our growing city,” Hogan said. “There are many details that occur behind the scenes from leaders in different areas. Mayor walker was very kind and made sure to answer all of our questions thoroughly. He inspired us to follow our dreams.”
Walker took the time to explain to the students the responsibilities that come with being mayor, detailing how a typical day in the life of the city leader goes. At the end of their interview, each student received a pin from Walker to take home as a souvenir. Walker shared about his experience in being interviewed by the student group.
“We had an incredible meeting,” Walker said. “The students had an opportunity to meet with our leadership group. They saw how the city actually functions through the leadership meeting, and then they had about another 30 minutes of Q&A with me where they just got to ask any questions they had. They asked some incredible questions, and I had just had a great time getting to meet with them.”
Through observing the mayor and city leaders, the student council group gained a better understanding of how local government works and how leaders serve their community. The trip served as a valuable lesson in the secrets of how to be a successful leader and inspired the students to pursue their dreams of becoming the next generation of community leaders.
A.E. Phillips Laboratory School Student Council members include 8th graders, Nolan Hogan, Caleb Barber, Emerson Caraway, Ava Good, Cooper Lee, Makaylan Walker, Preston Whitman, and 7th graders, Cate Davison, Jude Falting, Savannah Foster, Ella Morse, John Henry Nugent, and Hannah Walker.
Gregg Phillips (left) presents Simsboro High School’s Jalen Outley with the Good Neighbor of the Month award. (Courtesy Photo)
The Gregg Phillips State Farm Agency proudly recognizes Jalen Outley from Simsboro High School as their Good Neighbor of the Month winner for January.
The Simsboro administration and teachers nominated Jalen for his dedication to serving his school and community. Jalen is not only a passionate basketball player, but he also enjoys photography.
“I honestly really enjoy balancing my love for a fast paced action of basketball; then, using photography to capture life’s cultivating moments,” wrote Jalen.
While at Simsboro High School, Jalen has used his talents to serve his fellow students.
“My talents and interest extend beyond my personal enjoyment though as I actively and frequently find myself contributing to my community,” wrote Jalen. “I have been given the incredible opportunity to shoot pictures for my school’s homecoming, other local schools basketball games, and other extracurricular events.”
Jalen has also collaborated with the multi-million dollar company WRLDINVSN and has taken pictures for them. As Gregg presented Jalen with his award, Gregg said, “What matters to me is your impact on the community by just being a good person. So thank you.”
Gregg Phillips State Farm recognizes a student each month in Lincoln Parish who has dedicated their time and talents to bettering our community and for being the example of what a Good Neighbor is all about.
Congratulations Jalen on this achievement and thank you for all that you do to better our community.
On Thursday, January 23, 2025, shortly before midnight, Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash on U.S. Highway 165 just north of Louisiana Highway 4. The crash claimed the life of 75-year-old Marshall Taylor of Columbia.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Taylor, was traveling south on U.S. Highway 165. For reasons still under investigation, the Chevrolet traveled off the left side of the road and struck a utility pole.
Taylor, who was unrestrained, was pronounced dead at the scene. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being severely injured or killed in a crash. Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. Properly wearing your seat belt is one of the most effective ways to save your life and reduce injuries during crashes.
A Grambling woman was arrested at Grambling State University campus last week after she was found trespassing on campus.
Sheryl Lee White, 45, was arrested for criminal trespass and resisting an officer as well as a number of warrants after GSU officers located her in a housing complex without authorization.
Officers located a man and woman in one of the laundry rooms in the campus’s Steeple Glen Apartments. White said she was washing clothes and that a female in one of the buildings told her she could use the washer and dryer. Officers were unable to verify that information.
The man provided identification, but White said she did not have any ID on her. Initially, she gave the wrong date of birth twice. After several failed attempts to obtain White’s correct information she was placed under arrest. Police found in the suspects’ vehicle that provided White’s identification with the correct date of birth.
A records check showed White was wanted on four bench warrant from Ruston City Court for no liability insurance, driving under suspension, improper taillights, and resisting an officer. She was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for three counts of criminal trespass and three counts of resisting an officer by giving false information and the four warrants. Bail was set at $24,500.
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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A Ruston man was arrested last Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted an animal control officer investigating an animal cruelty complaint.
Ronald W. Spivey, 32, was arrested on January 21 for battery of a police officer and two outstanding warrants.
A Ruston animal control officer was investigating an animal cruelty complaint on Jody Court in southeast Ruston and requested urgent backup from police. When police officers arrived, the animal control officer said he was loading a dog when Spivey interfered. Spivey reportedly yelled at the officer and grabbed and pushed him.
Spivey was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for a battery of a police officer and warrants for failure to appear in Ruston City Court for no liability insurance and expired license plate. Bail was set at $4,000.
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.
MONROE, La. — A second half scoring explosion for Ruston High Friday night by senior Aidan Anding and sophomore Ahmad Hudson came off the heels of a terrific defensive performance as the Bearcats (11-4, 2-0 District 2-5A) bested the Neville Tigers (15-8, 0-2 District 2-5A) 58-46 in a road district contest.
Ruston High Assistant Coach Corey Deans was quick to credit his team’s defensive effort (particularly by senior Zheric Hill), creating opportunities for Anding and Hudson to combine for 30 of the Bearcats’ 36 second half points in the win.
“The key to the game was Hill’s defense,” Deans said. “When he’s in the game, he’s able to guard the other team’s best player and shut them down. And then (Anding) added the pressure to their point guard — they couldn’t get into their offense because of the pressure. I didn’t feel like we played well offensively, but we got a lot of points off of our defense.”
The Tigers opened up with a 14-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, with Ruston getting five early points by senior Joran Parker on a made basket and then a three-pointer. Sophomore Zaterrion Sutton gave Ruston a first quarter basket as did Hudson.
Ruston rallied to take a 22-22 tie into the locker room at the half on three more points by Sutton and two more three-pointers by Parker. Hudson added four points on a basket and two made free throws.
After holding Neville to just seven points in the third quarter, Ruston shot out to a 10-point lead heading into the fourth, thanks to four made free throws by Anding, a basket by Parker and 11 points by Hudson.
Anding finished with seven fourth-quarter points, while Hudson added eight, giving Hudson 25 and Anding 11 total for the game.
Parker totaled 13 points for Ruston, as well on the night.
“I thought (Parker) had a good shooting game,” Deans said. “He’s really been shooting well in the last couple of games.”
And while sophomore Keshun Malcolm may not have his best stat-line of the season scoring-wise, Deans added how important his role was in the win after collecting six rebounds on the night.
“Every night, they load up on Keshun now,” Deans said. “He doesn’t get any good looks anymore because of the other team’s defense.”
As the Bearcats continue toward district-play, Deans said he is pleased overall with how well the team is playing.
“Our team chemistry keeps getting better,” Dean said in conclusion. “Our leaders are really stepping up, and we’re talking more, and it’s deciding the game for us.”
Ruston returns to action at home Tuesday, Jan. 28, against Gibsland-Coleman following the varsity girls’ matchup, which is set for 5:30 p.m.
MONROE, La. — A furious second half rally, fueled in large part by senior Kiersynce McNeal, fell short Friday night as the Lady Bearcats (8-11; 1-1, District 2-5A) lost to Neville (15-3, 2-0 District 2-5A) 46-43.
“We trailed early in the game and dug a hole for ourselves, but, we fought back and applied great defensive pressure,” Ruston High head coach LaShanda Cooper said. “Our senior leaders stepped up and kept the younger girls locked in and focused.
Neville got out to a 9-6 lead after the first quarter after getting a three-pointer from sophomore Gioia Tatum and then a basket by sophomore Bailee Harrison. Ruston got a second three pointer by Tatum in the second quarter and McNeal’s first basket of the night.
After getting down 19-11 at the half, Ruston then scored 32 total points in the second half, with McNeal scoring 13 of her 15 points in the final two quarters.
“We’ve been really pushing (McNeal) to lead not just when things are good but when things are bad as well and she really stepped up last night,” Cooper said. “It was a tough loss for us but the hard work and resilience the girls showed made our coaching staff proud.”
Sophomore Angelica Green added three points on a made free throw and a basket, while McNeal added her second basket in the third quarter. Freshman Adrianna Roberson added a basket and a made free throw, and Ruston trailed 34-20 heading into the final stanza.
The Lady Bearcats more than doubled their point-total in the fourth quarter alone, scoring 23 points after getting 20 through three quarters. McNeal accounted for 11 of Ruston’s point total in the fourth.
Ruston also got seven-point performances out of both junior Journi Douglas, who scored all of her points in the fourth quarter. Senior Jasmine Summerford added scored five in the fourth quarter with a made three-pointer and a basket, as well.
Tatum totaled six points on two three-point shots in the first half.
The Lady Bearcats return to action Tuesday, Jan. 28, for a non-district home matchup with Gibsland-Coleman. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Ruston High School Main Gym.
Simsboro’s Ahmad Smith (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Boys: Simsboro 71, Castor 45
Simsboro High School senior Trumarion “Man-Man” Smith lit the fuse Friday night, and it didn’t take long before Tigers freshman Ahmad Smith exploded.
Pouring in 3-pointers like the snow fell down on the city of New Orleans earlier this week, the Tigers roared to a 71-45 win over Castor in District 1-B play inside the SHS gym.
It was Castor that struck first as A. Boyler stole the ball and went the distance for a layup, drawing a foul and adding a made free throw that put his team (also called the Tigers) on top 3-0 only 14 seconds into the opening stanza.
Then “Man-Man” got hot, scoring nine straight points of his own that put Simsboro on top by seven at the 5:49 mark of the first quarter.
Returning to SHS for his senior season after playing at Lincoln Prep last year during Adam Wodach’s first season coaching Simsboro, “Man-Man” finished with 15 points on the night, making numerous assists in addition to his scoring.
“He’s a special player and it’s good to see him getting more comfortable,” Wodach said. “The more comfortable he gets, the better it’s going to be for us.”
Ahmad Smith didn’t score his first points until there were only eight seconds remaining in the opening stanza, giving Simsboro a 16-10 lead heading into the second quarter.
He added a layup and then his first 3-pointer in the first two minutes of the second quarter to push the SHS lead to 28-12.
Another layup followed by his second 3-pointer with 3:04 remaining in the first half put Simsboro up 34-20. He added another layup at the 3:09 mark of the second quarter that helped SHS build a 41-24 halftime advantage.
And Ahmad Smith was only getting started.
He went on to add another four 3-pointers in the third quarter before adding his last one in the fourth to finish with a game high 31 points.
“You don’t tell him anything when you see a kid get on fire like that, you just watch it happen,” Wodach said. “I think you’re allowed to take one or two bad shots when you see that happening.
“That’s what makes this team special. Jakaleb (Modest) had 30 the past couple of games and tonight it was Ahmad. It’s hard to play against a team that has so many guys that can score, and that’s a credit to the work our guys have been putting in at the gym.”
Simsboro finished with nine 3-pointers on the night, with Justin Prudhomme, Modest and Justin Terrell adding one each.
“The whole gameplan was to make them play our game and I think we did that tonight,” Wodach said. “It’s going to be real tough to go to their place and play again because they’re good. I don’t think tonight’s score reflects how good of a team they are.
“Castor was No. 8 in the power ranking heading in and I hope that we jump them after tonight. But they’re better than tonight’s score reflects and it’s going to be tough to beat them at their place. But when this team plays hard, we’re hard to beat.”
Wodach said it was work put in before the game that helped his team play so well against Castor.
“I wish I could say it was about me, but it’s about the individual work our guys are putting in,” Wodach said. “We’re really trying to develop a mindset of taking it seriously. We have guys here an hour before they’re supposed to be here, watching film and working. We have guys who have as many hours watching film as I do.”
Wodach even credited team managers for chipping in to help his team win.
“I think that as a team we’re getting better at executing our scouting,” Wodach said. “We’re executing our scouting to a ‘T’ tonight. I have to give a shoutout to our managers. They were amazing watching film and helping me and working out our play calls, so credit to them. I just thought we played hard — relentless.
“You hear me talk a lot about playing 32 minutes, and we continue to find ways to play 32 minutes. And I’m proud.”
Next up for Simsboro, now 12-8 overall and 3-0 in district play, will be a 1-B home game against Quitman next Friday.
__________________________
Girls: Simsboro 42, Castor 34
The Simsboro High School Lady Tigers shook off a sluggish start at home Friday night to roar from behind and earn a 42-34 District 1-B win over Castor inside the SHS gym.
Finding themselves trailing 14-9 at the end of the opening stanza, Simsboro battled back to take a 27-17 lead at halftime after senior Mahogany Mosley came off the bench and nailed a 3-pointer 14 seconds before intermission to give her team that 10-point lead heading into the locker room.
“That’s what a senior does,” SHS coach Matt Herring said. “She was waiting for her time, and when she got her shot she didn’t miss. She’s always the first one at practice and never misses. I was proud of her for getting that good shot tonight.”
After Simsboro built as much as a 14-point lead after halftime, Castor managed to cut the SHS advantage to six points in the final minute of play. Prater said that overall, it was the kind of game he wanted to see from his Lady Tigers.”
“It was great to be a part of a game with both teams playing really hard like that,” Herring said. “I knew coming into this game that Castor was very similar to us. They play man-to-man and like to get after their opponents.
“I wanted to see if we would step up tonight. We’d won 10 games and they’d won about 10 games. At first they kind of punched us in the mouth and built a 10-point lead on us. But my girls didn’t quit. They just kept on fighting back and we dug out of that hole in the second quarter.”
Curniya McCallister led the Lady Tigers with 10 points on the night while Mallory Mitchell added nine and Jahkeria Abney chipped in with seven.
“She’s been a sparkplug for us this season,” Herring said. “Some nights she hits the 3s, but tonight it was that quick first step she used to get past them tonight and get to the basket, getting shots, getting free throws.
“Curniya has led us in scoring the past couple of weeks. She just kind of kind of stepped up out of nowhere.”
Bree Williams added four points for Simsboro, but it was her play in the paint and on the boards that Prater said played a key role in the SHS win.
“She’s playing with a hurt hand on her scoring arm right now, but I told her if we were going to win this game, we had to control the glass,” Herring said. “And she took that as a mission and just went after it and fought for rebounds trying to keep Castor’s big girl away from the basketball. I was really proud of her tonight.”
Simsboro, now 11-10 overall and 2-1 in district play, will host Quitman in a 1-B showdown next Friday.
Cannon Robbins scored a game-high 26 points to lead Cedar Creek to a district win at Glenbrook. (Photo by Darrell James)
by Malcolm Butler
Boys: Creek 82, Glenbrook 51
Head coach Lance Waldron saw his Cougars get off to a 1-0 start in District 1-1A action with a 82-51 victory over Glenbrook Friday night in Minden.
The second year Cougars head coach was happy with the W.
However, Waldron knows his Cougars will have to play with more consistency in the coming weeks with league games against Lincoln Prep, Ringgold and Arcadia on the horizon.
Cannon Robbins scored 26 points and Jake Terry added 25 points as the Cougars (10-4, 1-0) were never really threatened in Friday night’s victory over Glenbrook (2-10, 0-1).
“The guys did good offensively,” said Waldron. “I felt we got caught up in the game a little bit, and didn’t stick to our fundamentals on defense. I was a little disappointed in that, but it’s hard to do in a game like this.
“Glenbrook is rebuilding. They have a ways to go. Their coach is doing a good job with them, but they are just young.”
Glenbrook led 4-3 two minutes into the contest before the Cougars used a 10-0 run over the next 90 seconds spearheaded by a Terry three-pointer and a Robbins break-away dunk. Robbins added a conventional three-point play with 4:44 to go in the opening quarter to extend the Cougars lead to 13-4.
Terry and Robbins continued their opening-quarter onslaught, combining for 15 more points over the final four minutes of the quarter as the Cougars led 30-13 at the end of the first quarter.
The duo would score 12 of Creek’s first 14 points of the second quarter before a Landon Hall step-back three-pointer with 2:55 remaining before the half increased the Cougars lead to 47-20. Creek led 53-22 at the half.
Creek didn’t come out of the lockerroom with the same defensive intensity in which it played in the opening two quarters as the Apache got some open looks and some easier opportunities on their offensive end of the floor.
“These types of games are difficult sometimes,” said Waldron. “It’s always a mental obstacle you have to overcome. We talked about that this week. We didn’t want to play down to our competition. I thought we did a descent job, but I would have liked for us to lock in more on defense and not get caught up in the (score) of the game.”
Jack Bell netted all six of his points in the third quarter, including one of the Cougars 10 three-pointers on the night.
A Robbins three-pointer with 2:15 to play in the third quarter gave the Cougars a 69-34 lead, initiating the mandatory running clock which is an LHSAA rule once a team is leading by 35 points.
Waldron was able to empty his bench in the fourth quarter and a number of young Cougars put their name in the scoring column, including five points from Luke Alexander and a three-pointer by Micah Taylor.
Hall added seven points for the Cougars in the win.
Waldron said he was happy to start district play with the win, but knew his team would face a taller task Tuesday when they host Ringgold.
“We have already shifted gears on that one,” said Waldron about Tuesday’s opponent. “We are looking forward to it. They were in the Top 28 last year. They have played a really tough schedule. It’s tougher than what we have played.
“Their record isn’t as good as ours, but it is understandable because of the quality of their schedule. They have a couple of really, really good players back from last year’s team that was so good.”
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Cedar Creek Scoring: FG(3)-FT=Total Points
Cameron Temple 2-0=4; Cannon Robbins 9(3)-5=26; Brett Bell 1-0=2; Micah Taylor 1(1)-0=3; Luke Waldron 2-0=4; Luke Alexander 2(1)-0=5; Landon Hall 3(1)-0=7; Jack Bell 2(1)-1=6; Jake Terry 8(3)-6=25. Totals: 30(10)-12=82.
The No. 2 ranked Cedar Creek Lady Cougars (19-3, 1-0) jumped out to an early lead and then cruised to a 54-13 win over winless Glenbrook (0-10, 0-1) Friday night in Minden in the District 1-1A opener for both teams.
Sophomore Alivia Lee scored 13 points and junior Taylor Martinez added 11 points as eight different Creek players got into the scoring column in the victory.
The Lady Cougars were playing for the first time in a week and head coach Katie Hall said she was happy with what she saw.
“It was good to play against somebody besides ourselves,” said the second-year Lady Cougars head coach. “We were able to work on some things that we needed to work on to get better tonight.
“Defensively, we wanted to apply more ball pressure, but also stay in the gaps so we aren’t getting beat. Offensively, we wanted to push the ball in transition to be better at that. We were also able to work on some zone offense.”
Martinez got the Lady Cougars started right off the opening tip, draining the first of her three three-pointers on the night as Creek took a 3-0 lead less than 10 seconds into the contest. Lee then scored the first of her game-high 13 points one minute later with a corner three-pointer, one of eight made by Cedar Creek on the night.
When the Lady Cougars weren’t scoring in transition, they were sharing the basketball in their half-court offense, getting open looks much of the night.
“I thought we moved the ball really well tonight,” said Hall. “It’s all them. They are learning to trust each other, and they are learning to pass it around and make defenders move. This group finds joy in sharing the basketball. They talk about it afterwards. They celebrate that. We moved the ball really well tonight, and it was fun to watch.”
Mallory Smith and Avery Ryan hit back-to-back layups during a 40 second stretch and with 5:20 to play in the opening quarter, Cedar Creek led 10-0.
Caroline James drained her only three-pointer of the night with 3:35 to play and then Ryan added two more buckets and Smith another layup as the Lady Cougars led 20-1. Mary Grace Hawkins drilled a corner three-pointer with 5 seconds to play in the opening period to give Creek a 25-4 lead after the first.
Martinez and Lee started the second quarter like the began the game, hitting back-to-back three-pointers. A pair of Zoey Venters free throws followed by a Smith three-pointer upped the Creek advantage to 38-7 with just over a minute to play in the second quarter.
Leading 41-7 at halftime, Lee pulled down an offensive rebound and made the putback 15 seconds into the third quarter to push the lead to 36 points, initiating the running clock for the rest of the contest.
Martinez connected on her third three-pointer with 5 minutes to play in the third and the Lady Cougars held a 49-11 lead entering the final stanza.
Britton Bennett opened the fourth quarter with a corner three-pointer as Cedar Creek recorded the lopsided win to start league action.
“It’s always good to get a win on the road,” said Hall. “No matter who it’s against, but in district especially. It’s nice to start off in the right direction in district play.”
Ryan added nine points and Smith eight for the Lady Cougars.
Creek will host Ringgold Tuesday night at The Brickhouse.
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Cedar Creek Scoring: FG(3)-FT=Total Points
Alivia Lee 5(2)-1=13; Mary Grace Hawkins 1-1=4; Britton Bennett 1(1)-0-3; Caroline James 1(1)-0=3; Mallory Smith 3(1)-1=8; Taylor Martinez 4(3)-0=11; Zoey Venters 1-2=4; Avery Ryan 3-3=9. Totals: 19(8)-8=54
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, Jan. 27 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)
Wednesday, Jan. 29 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 6-8 p.m.: Free cooking class with LSU Ag (Ruston Farmers Market)
Thursday, Jan. 30 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Kiwanis Club lunch and program (Trinity Methodist Church fellowship hall) 6:30 p.m.: GSU women’s basketball
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.
Daniel Batcho scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Tech’s win. (Courtesy photo)
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Daniel Batcho and Kaden Cooper each tallied double-doubles as Louisiana Tech took down league leader Middle Tennessee, 75-69, on Saturday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
“At home, we have been pretty good with our energy and preparation,” said head coach Talvin Hester. “It was just a matter of were we going to finish the game. I was trying to make a mental note of not to panic when Middle Tennessee made that early run because they are a really good team.”
LA Tech (15-6, 4-4 CUSA) found itself down four with 4:51 to play, but the Bulldogs finished the game on a 16-6 run to protect the TAC and claim their seventh straight home victory.
Long before making the comeback, the ‘Dogs had an early rhythm offensively. Sean Newman Jr. connected with Cooper on an alley-oop dunk. Devin Ree buried a three-pointer. And Newman Jr. tacked on a 15-foot jumper and a pair of free throws to give LA Tech a 9-2 lead.
That lead evaporated real quick.
Middle Tennessee (14-6, 5-2 CUSA) countered with a whopping 15-0 run to stun the crowd, taking a 7-point deficit and turning it into an 8-point advantage. The cause was five forced turnovers and seven straight missed shots by LA Tech.
Finally, a Sean Elkinton offensive rebound and putback stopped the bleeding. Then helping slice into the deficit was Batcho who did not score a single point until the 7:43 mark when he made one of two free throw attempts.
The power forward started to settle in after that, scoring six straight points to tie things up at 23-23. However, Camryn Weston would sink a jumper in the paint and connect on a three-pointer to help give MTSU a 3-point edge at halftime.
The second half was back-and-forth for most of it, staying within four points each way. Cooper was huge in the final 20 minutes, scoring 14 of his 16 points after halftime, including hitting three corner three-pointers.
“Young players get their confidence on offense,” said Hester. “Today, Kaden got his confidence from playing hard on defense. Next thing you know the ball goes in and he is playing extremely hard. That is a growth thing he is going to go through. You saw the type of player he can be once he settles down and lets the game come to him.”
LA Tech was down four with just under five minutes to go. And then Batcho took over.
The nation’s leader in field goal percentage sparked a 10-0 run for the ‘Dogs, scoring eight of them including a massive alley-oop slam to help give the home squad a 69-63 advantage with 1:46 remaining.
“We got stops,” said Hester. “Not only stops, but we had Kaden Cooper and Daniel Batcho flying over the rim getting rebounds to secure their misses. When we hold people to one shot, now it gives ourselves a chance. And in the second half, we were the free throw team I know we can be.”
Then there was Cooper who kept LA Tech in it with a made jumper and one of his three triples coupled with two made free throws that helped during the run.
The biggest shot of the game though came courtesy of Newman Jr. who got his defender up in the air late in the shock clock, sinking the 10-foot jumper plus the foul making it a 72-65 lead.
LA Tech simply owned the second half, shooting 63.6 percent (14-of-22) during the stanza to help seal the come-from-behind victory. Batcho finished with 25 points and a season-tying 12 boards while Cooper had 16 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Newman Jr. tacked on 13 points and eight assists.
MTSU was led by Weston who had 16. Jestin Porter and Jlynn Counter each added 15 and 13 points, respectively.
The Grambling State University men’s basketball team found its way back into the win column after defeating Mississippi Valley State 65-54 on Saturday night at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.
GSU (5-14 overall, 2-4 SWAC) trailed at halftime, but breezed past MVSU (2-18, 0-7) with an early second half surge.
The Tigers got a career-high 12-point effort out of junior guard Emareyon McDonald, who entered the game off the bench. Grambling State’s reserves played a pivotal role in the victory, accounting 31 points.
Antwan Burnett also added 12 points for GSU, while Mikale Stevenson contributed 11.
With GSU trailing 16-14 with 6:17 remaining in the first period, McDonald knocked down a deep 3-point from the wing to give the Tigers a 17-16 lead.
MVSU responded with an 8-0 run, highlighted by a pair of threes by Arthur Tate, to grab a 24-17 lead 3:04 on the clock. Tate scored 16 of his 21 points in the opening period.
Flippin scored GSU’s next six points during a 6-1 spurt to make it a 25-23 game with 1:11 until halftime. The Delta Devils led 27-23 at the break.
Grambling State came out of the locker room on fire, opening the half on an 18-4 run to grab its first double-double digit lead of the contest, 41-31, with 12:12 left. Another 3-point by McDonald gave the Tigers their largest lead of night, 51-34, with 9:45 to play.
Mississippi Valley State battled its way back into the game, however, whittling GSU advantage down to 54-50 with 2:32 remaining.
Chilaydrien Newton splashed a clutch three 2:13 on the clock to give the Tigers a bit more breathing room, making the score 57-50.
The Tigers didn’t allow MVSU to threaten them the rest of the way as GSU clinched the 65-54 win.
Grambling State came out with a 69-62 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday afternoon in a Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex in Itta Bena, Mississippi.
The victory moves Grambling to 7-11 overall and 4-3 in SWAC play, while Mississippi Valley State falls to 2-16 overall and 1-6 in the conference.
The game was tightly contested throughout, with Grambling holding a narrow 12-11 lead after the first quarter. The Tigers extended their lead to 31-27 by halftime, thanks to a strong second-quarter performance.
Grambling maintained control in the third quarter, outscoring Mississippi Valley State 18-13 to take a 49-40 lead into the final period. Despite a late push by the Devilettes, who scored 22 points in the fourth quarter, the Tigers held on for the win.
Kahia Warmsley was pivotal for Grambling, scoring a season-high 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. She also grabbed eight rebounds and added three steals.
Lydia Freeman recorded her third double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while contributing a block and an assist. Alyssa Phillip added nine points and six rebounds, while Sharonica Hartsfield chipped in six points and three rebounds.
Mississippi Valley State was led by D’Yanna Maxey, who scored a team-high 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting and added three assists. Jaeda Murphy contributed 16 points, four assists, and four steals, while Jaylia Reed added eight points and three rebounds.
Despite shooting an efficient 52.3% from the field, the Devilettes were hampered by 28 turnovers, which Grambling converted into 30 points.
Grambling’s dominance on the boards was a key factor in the victory, as the Tigers out-rebounded Mississippi Valley State 44-23, including a 27-5 edge in offensive rebounds. This led to 25 second-chance points for the Tigers.
Funeral Services for Charles Ray Payne, age 64, of Ruston, LA, will be held 10:00 AM, Monday, January 27, 2025 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston, LA, with Bro. Caleb Tassin officiating, Burial will follow at Douglas Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A visitation is scheduled from 9:00-10:00 AM the same day, just prior to the service.
Charles Payne was born January 6, 1961 to O.C. and Shirley Payne. He passed away in Shreveport, LA, January 24, 2025. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Charles is survived by his wife of forty years, Pam Payne; his children: Zeb Payne and his wife Mary, Chris Payne and his wife Melinda, Katie Payne, and Scott Love; his grandchildren: Kyler Payne, Ellanor Payne, Gwynn Love, and Grey Love; his siblings: Angela and her husband Eddie Smith, Pam Kelley, and Robert Sweat; and his in-laws, V.A. and Joyce Hennen. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of other family and friends.
Mr. Payne was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He epitomized the scriptures that he loved so dearly; he loved the Lord with all his “heart, mind, body, and strength.” Charles had a servant heart and found great pleasure in supporting his community, both financially and physically. He loved spending time with his family, and his grandchildren fondly called him Papaw. He was a music lover and he enjoyed singing, he was often asked to sing “The Lighthouse”, one of his favorite songs. Charles won numerous awards for his skill on the grill, his most popular dish was his barbecue chicken. He was also known to have a great passion for motorcycles, and he used to love to ride his Harley Davidson. He loved any form of motorized racing. His family said that if it had wheels and would go fast, he enjoyed watching people race them. Charles loved God and he thoroughly enjoyed gathering to worship with his church family at Christ Church of Ruston. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Pallbearers for Mr. Paynes service are: Luke Tassin, Landon Hennen, Noel brown, Ryan Davidson, Tony Ledford, and David Marshall. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit: http://www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com
Barbara Ann Knight McKaskle July 20, 1934 – January 20, 2025 Visitation: Burkhalter Chapel at Trinity Methodist Church, Saturday, February 15, 2025, 1:00 pm Service: Burkhalter Chapel at Trinity Methodist Church, Saturday, February 15, 2025, 2:00 pm Reception: Burkhalter Chapel at Trinity Methodist Church, Saturday, February 15, 2025
Charles Ray Payne January 6, 1961 – January 24, 2025 Visitation: Monday, January 27, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Service: Monday, January 27, 2025, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Cemetery Committal: Monday, January 27, 2025, 11:30 AM, Douglas Cemetery, Hwy 821, Ruston
