By TEDDY ALLEN, Journal Sports

RUSTON — On an anything-but-baseball night, an evening colder than your ex-girlfriend’s heart, Louisiana Tech cleanly fielded more batted balls than LSU and, for that simple reason, beat the No. 2-ranked Tigers, 11-6, Wednesday night at a bitterly cold J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

Maybe because Tech had not beaten LSU in Ruston since 1987, and maybe because LSU had not visited Ruston in almost a quarter century — and maybe because they expected Tech to be decent since the Bulldogs had hosted a first-ever-in-Ruston NCAA Regional last spring and swept Wichita State in the season-opening series last weekend — a sellout crowd of 2,529 shoehorned themselves into the park and pretended it was mid-May.

Because of the Arctic conditions and because most people don’t want to die at a baseball game, or even at a soccer game (which is another story), surely they’d leave by the 6th?, no matter the score. Common sense demanded it.

But when it comes to true fans, what has common sense to do with baseball? Or any sport?

“I don’t know if I would have stayed out here the whole time if I wasn’t invested,” Tech coach Lane Burroughs said. “Our fans came out, and not only did they show up, but they stayed the whole game. I can’t say enough about them.”

Maybe “they’re crazy” would be a start. Against all odds — cold rain, ice drizzles, hypothermia — they stayed, right up until LSU’s Jacob Berry grounded out to Tech reliever Kyle Crigger, who joyously tossed the ball to Bryce Wallace for the final out.

Any LSU fans in the crowd were subdued for the duration when the Bulldogs jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three. But nothing is sure in February college baseball. Apparently appreciating that LSU was pretty good and had scored more than 50 (count ’em, 50) runs in its opening weekend against Maine, the Bulldog faithful stayed.

And stayed.

After a Taylor Young homer in the bottom of the eighth gave Tech an 11-4 lead — the senior from West Monroe was 3-for-4 and a single, of all things, away from the cycle — a couple fans left. That they’d showed up at all is a testament to what’s going on at the corner of Tech Drive and West Alabama in Ruston.

“Despite the bad conditions, we had people out here at 3:30 getting ready and it was just electric,” said Tech starter Cade Gibson, who pitched 5 innings, gave up three runs on three hits, struck out eight and walked only one. “We always have a good crowd and they’re always supportive. I love them to death.”

Which is sort of what fans risked to watch this one.

Tech’s four pitchers struck out 14 and walked only 2. Again, this was against a lineup that is projected to be in the Top 5 in NCAA Baseball. So you’re battling that — and frostbite.

But so were the LSU pitchers, who deserved better: six pitchers struck out 9 and walked just two. The five errors charged were what killed the Tigers. (Actually, LSU made a healthy 9 errors, two on fly balls — one in right-center and one in foul territory — and two on infield grounders. Home cookin’ for Tech’s hitters. Everyone was cold Wednesday night.)

Tech’s error total: Zero. Against the polar bear weather and the NCAA’s No. 2-ranked team, Tech proved to be the tougher team on this night. Or maybe the team that was less cold, more willing to accept the elements.

Or, in a game where blankets in the stands were as common as hot dogs, Tech’s team was, on an icy night, the hottest.

The Bulldogs host Tulane for three game this weekend; LSU will play Towson and Southern, each twice, this weekend.

Photo by TOM MORRIS

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By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports

The last game of the regular season was more than just the final game before playoffs started for the Calvary Baptist Academy boys’ basketball team. When the Cavaliers traveled to Green Oaks on Feb. 15 to take on the Giants in a non-district matchup, La’Bree Williams, Jr., wanted to make a statement.

He made it loud and clear. The 6-foot-6 senior led Calvary to a 66-51 victory with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks. The 210-pound power forward, who averaged 21.3 points during the regular season, is one of the state’s top-ranked recruits.

“I was just feeling it,” Williams said of the Green Oaks game. “The coach for SFA (Stephen F. Austin) was in the building so I wanted to play as advertised.”

Not only did the victory extend Calvary’s win streak to 12 games, it got the Cavs ready for their first-round matchup against Cedar Creek (Ruston) in the LHSAA Division IV boys’ basketball playoffs.

As anticipated, the District 1-1A champions (21-9) dominated the Cougars (11-14) Wednesday night. Williams posted 15 points and 11 rebounds while Calvary polished off the visitors, 81-39.

While beginning what’s expected to be an extended playoff run, it was difficult for the Cavs to not let the memory of last season’s championship game creep in – a little bit. Or maybe even recollections of the year before.

For the past two years, Calvary has fallen to Crescent City in the state championship game. When it happened again last March, coach Vic Morris immediately began planting the seeds to finish 2022 in style.

“The morning after the championship game last year, I called all the boys and told them we needed to start getting ready,” said Morris. “We needed to work harder.”

“That has been our mindset this year,” said Williams. “Every practice we work harder.”

The hard work doesn’t take place just during the regular practice session. It’s not unusual to see Williams and teammate Martin McDowell taking shots long after practice has ended. The chemistry between the two seniors is part of the reason the Cavs finished the regular season as the No. 3 ranked team in the Class 1A state rankings. McDowell, a 5-foot-11 point guard, also made a statement in the Green Oaks game, scoring 20 points with six 3-pointers.

“This team is special for a number of reasons,” explained Morris. “First, the chemistry and culture of this team is so close. They’re all like brothers and they hold each other accountable. Also, we’re a deeper team. We’ve got guys that can play multiple positions.”

Williams agrees that the chemistry between the players is the reason the Cavs have been so successful on the court this season. In fact, bonding on the basketball court has been part of his life since the second grade.

It didn’t take Williams long to fall in love with the sport. Growing up in California, he would spend countless hours at the neighborhood park. And it didn’t take long before people noticed.

“I was taller than everybody else back then,” Williams said with a smile. “My nana in Long Beach had a basketball hoop so my cousins and I would start playing as soon as we woke up.”

It was during his third-grade year that Williams and his family moved to Shreveport. For the past four years, he has been an integral part of Calvary’s success on the basketball court.

“He just has a natural ability to play,” Morris said when asked what makes Williams stand out. “He works really hard. And he has a feel for the game, an IQ for the game.”

When asked the same question, McDowell is quick to say, “He does whatever it takes to win. He is as disciplined as can be. He’s a good dude. He has a good heart.”

That heart is what led Williams to volunteer McDowell and himself to coach basketball to little kids.

“I walked in one day and was told La’Bree had volunteered us to coach,” recalled McDowell. “That’s the kind of guy he is.”

Perhaps coaching will be in Williams’ future. Or perhaps it just takes him back to those California days on the neighborhood basketball court when he was the little kid falling in love with the sport.

For now, all eyes will be on Williams and the Cavaliers in the state playoffs.

“We want to get back to the state championship,” said Williams. “We remember how we felt last year. We don’t want to feel that way again.

Photo by HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD

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By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports

Between 2003 and 2013, the Southwood girls’ basketball team was the team to beat in the LHSAA Class 5A state playoffs. In that span, the Lady Cowboys brought home five championships and four runner-up finishes.

Since then, the postseason has been a different story. While the Lady Cowboys made it to the playoffs seven of the last eight years, the only time they made it past the second round was a quarterfinal loss to eventual state runner-up Barbe in 2017.

Don’t think that hasn’t been on the minds of the Southwood faithful.

“We know the legacy of Southwood girls’ basketball and we’re not running from it,” says second-year head coach Kendrick Golatt. “We’ve left a space (for the championship banner). We ask, ‘Who’s going to put up the next one? ’ ”

If Jermesha Frierson has anything to say about it, the latest state championship banner will be hanging in the Southwood gym soon. The 5-foot-6 junior guard scored 12 of her game-high 24 points in overtime to lead the Lady Cowboys past East St. John 63-53 in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs Monday night on the road.

“Once overtime hit,” recalls Frierson, “I told myself I just had to put it in overdrive. We let them come back, but we were not going to let them win.”

That fierce determination is one of the reasons No. 11-seed Southwood (24-10) will meet No. 3 Lafayette (29-4) in the quarterfinals tonight at 6:00 in Lafayette.

“This is the thing about Jermesha,” explains Golatt. “She thinks just like I’m thinking. She sees the court and knows what to do before I tell her. She is a very smart student and that translates to the basketball court. She has a high IQ. And she can score from anywhere on the court.”

While Frierson is listed as both a point guard and shooting guard on the roster, she was moved primarily to the two spot this season. “Last year, she played point,” says Golatt. “But this year we wanted her off the ball. We wanted her moving about the court, not bringing the ball downcourt.”

That strategy has paid off this season as Frierson leads the Lady Cowboys in points (22), rebounds (5) and assists (5) per game.

Jermesha credits much of her success to her father, Jeremy Frierson, who is also on the coaching staff at Southwood.

“I wouldn’t say he was strict, but he taught me what I need to know,” she says of her father. “I’m in strong mental shape. Growing up with a father like mine and this coaching staff is pretty much the same. It’s easy when coach pushes you to be the best you can be. He (my dad) tells me no one can stop me. He knows I know what the right play is.”

Frierson knew what the “right play” was the first time she got a failing grade. “My dad told me you can’t go to college with failing grades,” she says. “I knew I had to do something about it.”

By watching a television show, Frierson thought she might want to go to medical school and become a neurosurgeon. With the same determination she shows on the basketball court, Frierson started watching videos and doing research on neurosurgery.

“I just liked it,” Frierson says of what she learned about neurosurgery.

“I’m already taking some college-level classes and I know I have to keep my grades up,” says Frierson, who holds a 4.8 grade point average.

Until then, however, Frierson will be concentrating on the task at hand. If the Lady Cowboys are able to bring the state championship banner back to the Southwood gym this season, they will first have to defeat a Lafayette team that is riding an 11-game winning streak.

It won’t be the first time these two teams have met, however. In the Walker tournament last year, Southwood took the Lady Lions to overtime before losing.

“Having played them before, we know how aggressive they are,” Frierson says of the Lady Lions. “They have solid guards and very good defensive players. We just need to play our style. Win or lose, all I ask for is effort.”

Photo by HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD

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By PRESTON EDWARDS, Journal Sports

It had been a long time since the Evangel Eagles hosted a meaningful boys basketball playoff game. The last time it happened, Dunham visited in the regional round of the 2A playoffs and downed the Eagles by 13.

That was 10 years ago. Fast forward to Wednesday night, and the Eagles had a chance to erase memories of that loss in the same round. This time, a Division II quarterfinals spot was on the line.

It took the Eagles a half to warm up. Behind the hot second-half shooting of wing Jecal Bryant, Evangel pushed past a tough E.D. White squad 60-52.

Bryant was quiet in the first two quarters, scoring just one basket. Afterward, he was the star of the night as he connected on six treys. His 22 points after intermission were vital for Evangel considering the rest of the team had a subpar night.

Guard Lance Waddles, ranked among the state’s top 20 prospects, helped provide a spark before Bryant got going. His five points, along with a Bryant three, helped Evangel begin the third quarter on a 10-0 run. That run gave the Eagles a lead that they did not relinquish. Waddles finished with 12 points.

Coach Eric Shepherd, while happy with the win, was not very happy with the Eagles’ overall performance.

“We haven’t played that bad in a while, “ Shepherd stated. “Hopefully we can get back to Evangel basketball within the next 72 hours.”

Going into the game, Shepherd thought a key would be not to let E.D. White guard Mason Lawless light it up. In the first half; however, that is exactly what he did, posting 13 points by intermission. Lawless finished with a game-high 27.

Shepherd categorized the game Lawless had as “an easy 27.”

“We have to guard better,” was Shepherd’s assessment. “Archbishop Hannan will force us to guard and we have to do just that.”

The Eagles’ record improves to 20-8. They will travel to play their quarterfinal contest in Covington with a berth at Marsh Madness on the line. Tip time has yet to be determined. E.D. White, the 11th seed in Division II, finished its season with a record of 17-11.

CALVARY 81, CEDAR CREEK 39: In a Division IV playoff game at Calvary, Kameron Kennon scored 17 and Labree Williams posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 boards as second-seeded Calvary rolled by 15th seed Cedar Creek 81-39. Calvary will host the Ascension Catholic-River Oaks winner on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Photo by PRESTON EDWARDS

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By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Kilgore looked every bit the No. 3 ranked junior college team in the country Wednesday night at the Billy Montgomery Gym while delivering an 82-61 defeat of Bossier Parish in a Region XIV basketball matchup.

The Rangers went on a 20-5 run over the last eight minutes of the first half to turn a 23-17 game into a 43-22 halftime lead.

Kilgore just cruised through the second half as Bossier Parish was unable to come up with a run of its own.

The Rangers made 16-of-17 free throws in the second half and finished the game 28-of-33. Sophomore guard Dantwan Grimes hit all three of his 3-pointers in the second half and finished with a team-best 14 points.

“We just didn’t get it done,” was all Bossier Parish coach John Anthony Anglin could say on the night when the Cavaliers honored its sophomores before their final home game.

The Rangers spread around the scoring with four others getting into double figures alongside Grimes. Duane Posey and Obi Ezekewesli both tallied 11 points and DaVeon Thomas and Paul Otieno had 10. Posey also added a game-high 10 rebounds as the Rangers dominated the boards, 37-18.

Otieno did the damage inside, scoring all of his points by halftime. Six helped spur the run that finished the half.

Jaeden Marshall once again led the Cavs with 19 points, three coming on buckets from beyond the arc, and he connected on 6-of-8 at the line. Kendrick Delahoussaye added 11 points and Derick Hamilton had 10.

Kilgore has now won six straight and is 26-2 overall and 16-2 in Region XIV. One of the losses came at home to the Cavs, 109-101 in overtime.

Bossier Parish lost its fourth straight and is 14-13 overall and 8-10 in the region. The Cavs finish the regular season Saturday at Tyler Junior College.

Photo by LEE HILLER

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Contests involving Bulldogs, Demons and Warhawks on the field, at the track and on the courts are entertaining, but not as intriguing or impactful as the games being played via e-mail, Zoom, WebEx and cell phones.

While the teams at Louisiana Tech, Northwestern State and ULM are aiming for wins and championships, their athletic directors are continuing to twist and turn through unsteady territory minus a scoreboard. The biggest game is conference realignment, which will shape the new era for college sports in Ruston, Natchitoches and Monroe.

ULM’s got the Alfred E. Newman mindset. What, me, worry? The Warhawks’ membership in the Sun Belt Conference has never looked better. The Sun Belt swiped Southern Miss, Old Dominion and Marshall from Tech’s Conference USA flock, and added stout FCS member James Madison, too.

That’s the good news for ULM. The flip side is the Warhawks’ neighborhood is getting richer and the look up the budget ladder is steeper now.

Nearby in Ruston, the C-USA lineup will soon look a lot different. Whether that’s in 2022-23, or 2023-24, will depend on lawyers arguing and judges ruling on exactly when the departing members can shift to the Sun Belt. It’s nothing that a negotiated, decimal-point buyout can’t resolve.

NSU hopes the Southland Conference has staying power. Although Texas A&M-Commerce is moving up from Division II with plenty of money and street cred, and Southland staple McNeese decided to stay put last fall, the league is still fragile. McNeese dreams of an invitation to move up to FBS status, and pines for a wink and nod from CUSA or the SBC. Tech’s conference might need shoring up, but it’s hard to fathom McNeese not looking like McLeast to the reconfigured CUSA collection. The 14-member Sun Belt isn’t receptive.

There’s no instability, just looming prosperity for Grambling. With the surge of support and attention that HBCU institutions are realizing, the Southwestern Athletic Conference is strong and getting stronger.

While ULM has to cope with the rising price of poker, it knows who its conference cousins are. That’s not true for NSU or Tech.

Sure, there are core membership groups, with newbies arriving. But both leagues crave strength in numbers, and currently lack it.

After six CUSA members charted their course for 2023 arrival in the American Athletic Conference (Tulane and pals), last fall’s defections of ODU, Marshall and USM were disastrous.

By adding four members, CUSA will survive with nine, but two of the schools relocating for 2023 (Jacksonville State, Sam Houston) are moving up from FCS, while another (New Mexico State) has never found its footing in FBS. Liberty has Power 5 financial resources and will immediately contend in football and basketball, at least.

Cue the 1970s Gloria Gaynor hit, “I Will Survive,” as CUSA’s new anthem, even if this version is a little off key.

Considering Northwestern, its conference hashtag has shifted from #SouthlandStrong to #SouthlandUnsteady. Following five of 13 members bolting last summer, Incarnate Word is the latest departure, heading out in July to join (at least for now) Stephen F. Austin, Lamar, and Abilene Christian in the Western Athletic Conference. UIW’s exit is offset by adding nearby A&M-Commerce, a Division II stalwart in football and basketball.

The Southland’s dilemma could be remedied by the suddenly plausible return of SFA (financial problems, and dipping enrollment) and Lamar (never enthralled by the move west). The realities of WAC-ky travel to Seattle, L.A., Salt Lake, etc., are sinking in. The Southland’s other ideal: at least a couple regional Division II programs like Arkansas Tech, Central Oklahoma and West Texas A&M decide to follow Commerce into Division I.

All of these hypotheticals could be moot before 2025, once the major powers have a monstrous new TV/streaming deal set, rooted in football, but maybe folding in March Madness, which if so, would shatter the NCAA as we’ve known it.

There are 358 Division 1 athletic programs; the elite 65 are in Power 5 conferences. The majority does not rule. The D-I lineup will likely look quite different, with more separation than has existed in decades.

Don’t be shocked by minor-league sports at the top. With the dawn of NIL benefits for college athletes, Power 5s are basically there now, although they have minimal control, and that makes them uncomfortable. Refining that landscape will trigger another reshuffling, ultimately producing stable conference affiliations down the line for Northwestern, Tech and their peers.

Don’t expect quick solutions. The big boys choose when to start the dominos tumbling.

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College Baseball

Louisiana Tech 11, LSU 6
Kellogg CC 14, Bossier Parish 6

College Basketball

Women

BPCC vs. Paris, ppd. (Friday, 4 p.m.)

Men

Kentucky 71, LSU 66
Kilgore 82, BPCC 61
Georgia St. 82, La-Monroe 70

High School Basketball

Boys Division II First round playoffs

Evangel 60, E.D. White 52

Boys Division IV First round playoffs

Calvary 81, Cedar Creek 39

High School Baseball

Byrd 13, West Ouachita 3

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There is a remarkable annual act of nature starting to take place any day now. A couple of years ago, I was turkey hunting when I saw something that fascinated me. As I sat overlooking a food plot, a deer stepped out 40 yards or so away followed by a second and then a third deer. They lingered just long enough for me to get a good look at them but no time to snap a photo.

The interesting thing I noticed about these three deer, something I’d never seen before, was that all three were bucks that had only recently shed their antlers. Each of the three had prominent circles – pedicles – on their heads where last year’s antlers had grown.

Here’s what happens in the world of the deer. Buck deer drop their antlers in late winter or early spring. Soon after losing their headgear, they start growing a new set of antlers they’ll have until this time next year. This new set begins as fuzzy knobs growing on the pedicles which are located on the buck’s head between his eyes and ears. The newly formed antlers are soft and subject to damage and for this reason, bucks are shy and reclusive; they’re protective of this new growth.

A couple of months before shedding antlers, bucks use them to hook and thrash bushes, brush and small saplings and to fight other bucks to establish dominance. Bushes and bucks are in no danger of being gored and thrashed in spring and summer because he is protecting his newly forming soft antlers.

According to a source I read about the growth of deer antlers, velvet is described as “vascular skin that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing bone.” This amazing material causes the antler it covers to grow at an amazing rate. In fact, deer antlers grow faster than any other mammal bone. This fast rate of growth actually is a handicap to a buck because of the incredible nutritional demand on deer to re-grow antlers annually.

Once the antlers achieve their full potential for the year, usually by mid-September in our part of the world, the velvet has served its purpose. As it dries and is rubbed off on bushes by the buck, the antler bone actually dies. Here’s something I read that gave me pause. What deer hunters see, when that big buck comes slipping by the stand, is an animal sporting a head full of dead bone.

A fun activity many deer hunters like to pursue, now that hunting seasons are over, is to search for dropped antlers. There is a measure of excitement to hold in your hands the head gear of a big buck that will whet your appetite for what he’ll look like once hunting seasons roll around again this coming fall.

So, how do you find shed antlers? Where are the best places to look? I have had good luck stumbling upon sheds while scouting for wild turkeys. While looking for turkey tracks, I have on several occasions spotted an antler among the leaves and litter that has been cast aside by a buck.

Go where deer hang out, especially food plots, bedding areas and trails. One of the most likely locations where you might find dropped antlers is to follow a trail where it crosses a small stream or a fence. The antler is more likely to be found near where the deer touched down after hopping the obstacle.

The entire process of bucks growing velvet-covered, delicate antlers, to them becoming hardened and eventually being shed, just to do it all again every year is one of nature’s most amazing and fascinating feats.

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JOURNAL STAFF

Benton Senior Logan Smith headed up the District 1, Division II boys soccer All-District team by being named the Overall Most Valuable Player on the team selected by the league coaches.

Teammate Dayne Reed, also a senior, was selected at the Defensive MVP and Parkway senior Maximus Holt the Offensive MVP. Benton won the district with a 5-0 record, one game ahead of runner-up Parkway (4-1).

Northwood coach Jacob Maniero was named the district Coach of the Year after leading the Falcons to a 3-3 district mark and 14-8-2 overall.

Below is the full list of the All-District team:

Division II, District 1 All-District

BOYS

FIRST TEAM

Forward — Ethan Bihler, Benton, So.

Forward — Carter Ebarb, Haughton, So.

Forward — R.J. Moore, Benton, Sr.

Forward — Jakryan Pierson, Caddo Magnet, Jr.

Midfielder — Chase Clutter, Benton, So.

Midfielder — Aeron Burrell, Parkway, So.

Midfielder — Alexander Baltov, Caddo Magnet, So.

Midfielder — Jonathan Woldie, Caddo Magnet, Sr.

Midfielder — Osvaldo Martinez, Northwood, Jr.

Defender — Reed Petro, Benton, Jr.

Defender — Daniel Lee, Parkway, So.

Defender — Kimanee Gibson, Parkway, Sr.

Defender — Fabian Elias, Parkway, Sr.

Defender — Ben Muslow, Caddo Magnet, Jr.

Goalkeeper — Peyton May, Parkway, Jr.

Goalkeeper — Mark DeLeon, Caddo Magnet, Jr.

Overall MVP — Logan Smith, Benton, Sr.

Offensive MVP — Maximus Holt, Parkway, Sr.

Defensive MVP — Dayne Reed, Benton, Sr.

Coach of the Year — Jacob Maniero, Northwood

SECOND TEAM

Forwards — Buzz Bording, Benton, Sr.; Yoni Flores, Northwood, Jr.; Emiliano Garduno, Caddo Magnet, Sr.; Matthew Mays, Northwood, Sr. Midfielders — Ittiwat Techovongsakul, Northwood, Jr.; Aaron Poche, Northwood, Jr.; Nolan Dean, Parkway, Jr.; Brasen Teutsch, Parkway, So.; Lee Ballard, Caddo Magnet, So.; Defenders — Turner Hubbard, Benton, So.; Jaime Garcia, Benton, Sr.; Preston Sipes, Caddo Magnet, Jr.; Christian Obregon, Haughton, Sr.; Thomas Kamberov, Caddo Magnet, So.; Goalkeepers — Joseph Corsino, Benton, Sr.; Marc Denison, Northwood, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION: Benton — Will Weiford, Nate Sessions. Caddo Magnet — Diego Martinez, Alexander Walker, Devon Meyer, Tammer Helmy. Haughton — Sage Barker, Christian Ontiveros, Jose Montes, Josthin Quiacain, Caleb Bencke. Minden — Connor Humphreys, Riley Streetman, Carter Barnet. Northwood — Dakotah Porter, Carson Wall, Carter Floyd, Ashton Shamburger. Parkway — Ryder Trant, Tyler McCann, Alexander Long, Joshua McGaugh.

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JOURNAL STAFF

Caddo Magnet girls soccer coach John Lee was named the District 1, Division II Coach of the Year after leading the Mustangs to the district title and two of his players collected Most Valuable Player honors.

Sophomore Audrey Jordan was a key player for the Mustangs and was selected the Overall MVP along with Defensive MVP Abby Beasley, a senior. Jamie Willis, a junior at second-place Benton, was named the Defensive MVP.

Listed below is the full list of the All-District team:

Division II, District 1 All-District

GIRLS

FIRST TEAM

Benton – Gracie Willis, Sr., defender

Benton – Maliyah Antwine, Sr., defender

Benton – Peyton (Lexy) Bouillon, Jr., forward

Benton – Abigail Jacobs, So., wing

Caddo Magnet – Hannah McGuire, Sr., midfielder/goalkeeper

Caddo Magnet – Jordan Lee, Sr., defender

Caddo Magnet – Margaret Roemer, Sr., midfielder

Caddo Magnet – Antonia “Toni” Sapp, Sr., midfielder

Caddo Magnet – Madeleine Myers, Sr., midfielder

Haughton – Lowrey Lain, Jr., midfielder/forward

Haughton – Lauren Tippet, Sr., midfielder/forward

Haughton – Ambur Dement, Jr., midfielder/defender

Huntington – Shinice Snell, Sr.

Minden – Ella Floyd, Sr., defender

Minden – Cameron Smith, So., midfielder

Minden – Elyse Jackson, Jr., defender

Northwood — Cheyennee Beavers, Sr.; Hannah Hensley, Sr.

Overall MVP — Audrey Jordan, Caddo Magnet, So.

Offensive MVP — Jamie Willis, Benton, Jr.

Defensive MVP — Abby Beasley, Caddo Magnet, Sr.

Coach of the Year — John Lee, Caddo Magnet

SECOND TEAM

Benton — Kennedy Nipper, Sr., goalkeeper; Justine Watkins, Sr., defender; Emerson Foster, Sr., midfielder; Lana Whiteman, Fr., forward; Miranda Crabtree, Sr., defender. Caddo Magnet — Gaffney Nelson, Jr., midfielder; Anniston Hidalgo, Sr., defender; Merritt Hughes, Jr., midfielder; Caroline Wilemon, Jr., midfielder/forward. Haughton — Dani Droddy, Jr., midfielder/defender; Averie Felicetty, Jr., defender; Madecyn Johnson, Jr., midfielder/defender. Huntington — Amya Brown, Fr.; Keren Rivas, So. Minden — Caroline Floyd, Jr., forward; Kaydree Kemp, So., midfielder; Kylie Ryan, So., defender Northwood — Taylor Bell, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION: Benton — Natalie Brice, Jr., wing; Grace Weiford, Fr., midfielder; Caroline Moore, Jr., wing. Caddo Magnet — Alayna “Lainey” Howell, So., defender; Sara Sutherland, Sr., defender; Addison Tipton, So., goalkeeper. Haughton — Elizabeth Gaspard, Sr.; Emma Maynor, Jr.; Cassidy Cloud, Sr. Huntington — Tiuana Bradford, Sr.; Selena Answorth, So.; Jennifer Marriquin, Sr. Minden — Alyssa Streetman, Jr., defender; Piper West, So., midfielder. Northwood — Ashlyn Paul, So.; Mariah Tilley, Jr.; Lily Cooper, Fr.

 Photo by CHRISTY ROEMER

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JOURNAL STAFF

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Just when it looked like the LSU basketball team had regained its sparkling midseason form, Kentucky showed why the Wildcats are a serious national championship contender.

The Tigers’ impressive first half paled in comparison to the Wildcats’ rally to a 71-66 Southeastern Conference victory Wednesday night at Rupp Arena.

LSU built an eight-point halftime lead and sustained it early in the second period, but Kentucky erupted on a 15-2 run fueled by 11 points from reserve Bryce Hopkins. The Wildcats opened a 65-50 lead before the Tigers mounted a closing push that got them within 68-64 with 33 seconds to go.

Sixth-ranked UK (23-5, 12-3 SEC) made three free throws sandwiched around Darius Days’ bucket in the final half minute to hold off LSU (19-9, 7-8).

Xavier Pinson poured in 26 points for the Tigers, 16 in the first half when the visitors shot 48 percent overall and sank 5 of 12 3-point tries. But LSU cooled to 36 percent aim in the final 20 minutes, and couldn’t sustain a double-digit lead for the second straight outing.

Kentucky played without two starting guards. Oscar Tshiebwe collected 17 points and 16 rebounds to pace the Wildcats.

GEORGIA STATE 82, ULM 70: The Panthers won their sixth straight and swept the season series with the Warhawks (13-16, 5-12 Sun Belt), pulling away from a 36-35 halftime edge. Corey Allen and Justin Roberts each scored 15 for GSU (14-10, 8-5). Andre Jones led the visitors with 14 points while Russell Harrison posted 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Thomas Howell scored 12 in the Warhawks’ fourth straight loss.

BASEBALL

KELLOGG CC 14, BOSSIER PARISH CC 6: The visitors from Michigan scored in seven of the nine innings and were aided by 12 free passes from nine Cavalier pitchers. BPCC tied the score 6-6 in the fifth but the Bruins posted three more runs in the sixth and never trailed thereafter. Simon Grinberg had a 2-run double for the Cavs (9-3) and Alejandro Cazoria and Luke Bogan both had a pair of hits.

Photo Courtesy LSU ATHLETICS

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Thursday

College Basketball

Nicholls at Northwestern St. women, 5:30 p.m.
Rice at Louisiana Tech women, 6:30 p.m.
Georgia Southern at La-Monroe women, 6:30 p.m.
Alabama at LSU women, 7 p.m.
Louisiana Tech men at Rice, 7 p.m.
Nicholls at Northwestern St. men, 7:30 p.m.

High School Baseball

Neville at Airline, 6 p.m.
Benton at Pleasant Grove, Texas, 3 p.m.
Haughton at West Monroe, 5 p.m.
Bossier at North Caddo, 6 p.m.
Evangel at Loyola, 6 p.m.

High School Basketball

Girls LHSAA Quarterfinals

CLASS 5A

(10) Northshore at (2) Parkway, 6 p.m.
(11) Southwood at (3) Lafayette, 6 p.m.

CLASS 4A

(5) Huntington at (4) South Lafourche, 6 p.m.

High School Softball

Simsboro at Byrd, 5 p.m.
Captain Shreve at Stanley, 5 p.m.
Red River at Southwood, 5 p.m.
Caddo Magnet at Northwood, 5:30
Huntington at Green Oaks, 5 p.m.
Woodlawn at Minden, 4 p.m.
Loyola at Doyline, 5 p.m.
North Caddo at Zwolle, 5 p.m.
Plain Dealing at Arcadia, 5 p.m.

Friday

High School Basketball (boys)

CLASS 5A

(27) Live Oak (14-12) at (6) Captain Shreve (25-5), 6 p.m.
(18) Airline (16-9) at (15) East St. John (26-8), 7 p.m.
(23) Southwood (16-16) at (10) West Monroe (18-9), 7 p.m.

CLASS 4A

(29) Tioga (14-20) at (4) Huntington (19-5)
(22) Livonia (16-16) at (11) Woodlawn (25-9)
(19) Breaux Bridge (15-12) at (14) BTW (21-9), 7 p.m.
(31) Northwood (15-15) at (2) Karr (29-4), 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A

(31) Green Oaks (11-18) at (2) Bossier (24-7), 7 p.m.

CLASS 2A

(26) North Caddo (12-14) at (7) Franklin (19-7), 6 p.m.

High School Baseball

Benton at Decatur, Texas, DH, 10 a.m.
West Monroe at Haughton, 5 p.m.
Huntington at Southwood, 6 p.m.
Loyola at Evangel, 6 p.m.
Franklin Parish at Northwood, 6 p.m.
Plain Dealing at Ringgold, 4:30 p.m.

High School Softball

Sterlington Tournament – Airline, Haughton, Evangel, Calvary
North DeSoto Tournament – Benton, Captain Shreve, Loyola, North Caddo, Northwood, Parkway, Southwood
Pineville Tournament – Byrd

College Basketball

La-Monroe men at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m.

College Baseball

Northwestern St. at Oklahoma, 4 p.m.
Our Lady of the Lake at LSUS, 6 p.m.
Tulane at Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m.
Missouri at La-Monroe, 6 pm.
Towson at LSU, 6:30 p.m.
Florida A&M vs. Grambling St., Lawrenceville, Ga., 7 p.m.

College Softball

Northwestern St. vs. Lipscomb, Youngsville, La., 2 p.m.
Louisiana Tech. vs. St. Thomas, Youngsville, La., 2 p.m.
Northwestern St. vs. Eastern Illinois, Youngsville, La., 4 p.m.
Louisiana Tech. vs. Portland State, Youngsville, La., 4 p.m.
Grambling St. at Alabama State, 7 p.m.

Note: The above schedule is subject to cancellations or reschedule

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Bossier Parish

Bennie Ray Reamer
May 25, 1955 ~ February 17, 2022
Visitation: Thursday February 24, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Stonewall Baptist Church 807 Eatman Street
Bossier City
Services: Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 AM Stonewall Baptist Church 807 Eatman Street Bossier City

Callahan Rhys Bell
February 24, 2022
Visitation: 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. 
Services:  11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 24, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City

Margie Wallace
October 10, 1942 – February 20, 2022
Visitation: 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Thursday, February 24, 2022
Services:  10:00 a.m. Friday, February 25, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City

Caddo Parish

Percy Carey
July 18, 1931 ~ February 18, 2022
Visitation:  Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 PM to 5:30 PM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St. Shreveport
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM Galilee Baptist Church 1500 Pierre Avenue
Shreveport

Tangela Brown
February 15, 1983 ~ February 19, 2022
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 2:00 PM Heavenly Gates Funeral Home 1339 Jewell Street Shreveport

Loretta Ann Leggett
December 24, 1949 – February 21, 2022
Visitation:  Wednesday, February 23, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport
Services:  Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Pinecroft Baptist Church, 8002 Jewella Ave., Shreveport

Martha McCain
May 8, 1923 ~ February 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 PM to 5:00 PM Zion Baptist John H. Wilson Chapel
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 10:00 AM Lake Bethlehem Church Cemetery 2842 Dr Martin Luther King Dr Shreveport

Jermond “Chance” Lewis
July 28, 1980 ~ February 15, 2022
Visitation: Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 PM to 5:00 PM New Bethel MBC 3300 Greenwood Rd
Shreveport
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM Mayflower Baptist Church 2599 Mayflower Rd
Sligo

Ralph Fuggins
October 24, 1958 ~ February 16, 2022
Visitation: Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Light Hill B.C. 1823 Pine Hill Rd Shreveport
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM Light Hill B.C. 1823 Pine Hill Rd Shreveport

Robert Lee Jackson
December 3, 1953 ~ February 16, 2022
Visitation:  Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St. Shreveport
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM Jenkins Cemetery (Doyline)

Francis Wells
June 9, 1930 ~ February 17, 2022
Visitation:  Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 PM to 5:00 PM Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church 2222 Roy Road
Shreveport
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church 2222 Roy Road
Shreveport

Charles Snow
December 10, 1946 ~ February 19, 2022
Visitation:  Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 PM to 5:00 PM Zion John H. Wilson Chapel
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM Morning Star Baptist Church 5340 Jewella Avenue
Shreveport

Mancil Thomas, Jr.
March 14, 1950 ~ February 20, 2022
Visitation: Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 PM to 5:00 PM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St.
Shreveport
Services:  SaturdayvFebruary 26, 2022 11:00 AM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St. Shreveport

Khalil DeVante Williams, Sr.
May 31, 1995 ~ February 15, 2022
Visitation:  Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM New Bethel MBC 3300 Greenwood Rd Shreveport 
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 1:00 PM New Bethel MBC 3300 Greenwood Rd Shreveport

Reginald Dean Weathers
May 13, 1963 ~ February 21, 2022
Visitation: Friday February 25, 2022 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Winnfield Funeral Home – Shreveport
3701 Hollywood Avenue
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM  Tooke Cemetery Relford Rd Rinngold

Kate T. Williams
April 12, 1923 ~ February 17, 2022
Visitation: Friday February 25, 2022 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Winnfield Funeral Home – Shreveport 3701 Hollywood Avenue
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM Greater Pleasant Grove Baptist Church 1500 Grigsby St
Shreveport

 JoAnn Giles Cook
August 14, 1948 ~ February 15, 2022
Visitation: Friday February 25, 2022 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Winnfield Funeral Home – Shreveport
3701 Hollywood Avenue
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 12:00 PM Winnfield Funeral Home – Shreveport

Betty “Babs” Anne Salvaterra
October 27, 1943 – February 21, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport
Services:  Thursday at 12:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home

Mary Faye Jacobs
July 29, 1963 – February 18, 2022
Services:  Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4000 Meriwether Rd., Shreveport

Agnes Salandra Merello
December 20, 1925 – February 18, 2022
Services:  Friday, February 25, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary of the Pines Catholic Church, 1050 Bert Kouns Ind. Loop, Shreveport

Allen Duane Blankenship
April 25, 1966 – February 20, 2022
Visitation: Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home
Services:  Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport

Danny Kay Combs
October 14, 1947 – February 19, 2022
Visitation:  Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until service time at the church
Services:  Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at Faith Community Church, 4901 Pine Hill Rd., Shreveport

William “Jake” “Skeeter” Jennings Sherman, Jr.
August 12, 1936 – February 16, 2022
Visitation:  1:00 p.m. until time of service
Services:  3:00 p.m. Monday, February 28, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall St., Shreveport

Mitia Sims
February 27, 1987 ~ February 15, 2022
Visitation:  Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St. Shreveport
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM New Zion B.C, Mooringsport

Roy Lee Henderson
March 21, 1956 ~ February 7, 2022
Visitation: Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St. Shreveport
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM Ebernezer Baptist Church 199 Ebernezer Road
Taylortown

Vaughn Anthony McKnight
April 17, 1967 ~ February 15, 2022
Visitation: Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Zion Baptist John H Wilson Center 3038 Hollywood Avenue Shreveport
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 1:00 PM Zion Baptist John H Wilson Chapel

Francis Wells
June 9, 1930 ~ February 17, 2022
Visitation:  Friday February 25, 2022 11:00 PM to 5:00 PM Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church 2222 Roy Road
Shreveport
Services:  Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00 AM Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church 2222 Roy Road Shreveport

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How we made it through Mardi Gras parades without them, only our excretory systems know for sure.

Those were archaic and tawdry times.

Today, we are more civilized out there on the parade highways and byways, all thanks to the upright and rectangular 3-D miracles of translucent roofs and vents, and the miraculous pairing of high-density aluminum and polyethylene.

They are no question the MVPs of the Mardi Gras parade season.

Most Valuable Potties.

Look at them, will you? Admire them. Lay flowers and rolls of toilet paper at their feet, which is probably a worn spot in the grass where quick-stepping, over-served revelers hurried to take advantage of their favors.

They are the figurative port in the storm. Or the literal Port-O-Let in the storm.

A mere few feet off the parade route, they stand there as silent sentries, loyal soldiers, dutiful and dependable, ready if called upon, available but not obvious.

On the streets and in our ’hood they go by names like “Honey Bucket” or “Porta-Loo” or “Johnny-on-the-Spot.” The business community that makes a living renting, servicing, and supplying these crucial devices to the Great Unwashed call them portable toilets or chemical toilets.

But the way most of us first came to appreciate them was when we heard the phrase “Port-o-Let” or “Port-a-Jon” or “Porta Potty.” It should come as no surprise that each starts with a “P.”

Poetic justice is served.

Hemingway said once that Paris is “a moveable feast.” Had the outhouse of his day been mobile, he’d have said the same thing of the Port-o-Let.

The street where I live is perpendicular to the four-lane that marks the end of the route of Shreveport-Bossier’s two largest parades. By largest, I mean a quarter-million of our closest friends turn out to enjoy what krewes have worked (and played) all year to assemble. There are smaller parades in town and in the area, but these two pulled in the most bladders.

Thus, the Potty Patrol is needed. Down that otherwise unassuming street that marks the parades’ end, these portable must-haves stand stately for a quarter mile, maybe a bit more. They are rented by people who have reserved “spots” along the route, and the envied contraptions will be picked up next week. But right now, they are assurance and insurance for the renters, who can sleep well, knowing that on The Big Day, help will be just one opening of a plastic door away.

If you didn’t rent one and you need to “go,” well, you’ll find out who your friends are come parade time. You think you’re No. 1 and might just find out that you’re No. 2.

Sad, but such is the human condition. There will come a time when relief is demanded for the laboring kidney, the anxious bladder, the suspect colon. Those who fail to prepare are prepared to fail, and this is the kind of failure that does not go quietly into that dark night.

When Mardi Gras in our area was new, in pre-Port-o-Let days of yore, the make-believe portable potty was a shrub, a shadowed tree, the side of an unassuming garage.

That was rural fare. Tacky. We’ve since come a long way.

Who could have known then that instead of going to the bathroom, the bathroom would one day come to us. And usually, not a second too soon.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

Five years ago, the Louisiana Tech baseball had exactly zero players from Shreveport-Bossier on its roster. In fact, there were very few players from the state of Louisiana.

When the Bulldogs meet LSU tonight at 6 o’clock at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, there will be 13 Louisiana natives on the Tech squad – including five from Shreveport-Bossier. Seniors Steele Netterville and Jonathan Fincher, along with West Monroe’s Taylor Young, are the cornerstones of the 2022 Tech team.

“I’m not trying to be dramatic and overstate this, but when those three guys decided to play baseball here, our program changed,” Tech coach Lane Burroughs said.

The three were named Bulldog Men earlier this year, which makes them team captains for life in Tech baseball.

“That’s what’s great about coaching; you get these guys who come in here as freshmen and they are essentially boys,” Burroughs said. “They are as green as monkey grass. And when they leave, they are full grown men. The relationship changes from player-coach to friends. Those three are more like peers now.”

Here’s a look at the five local products on the Bulldog roster – with comments from Burroughs.

STEELE NETTERVILLE (DH, Sr., Byrd) – “Just tremendous strength and somebody who can drive the ball. I’ve enjoyed watching him grow into a leader on our team and even in the community. He’s just meant so much to us on and off the field. The numbers speak for themselves. He could be in the middle of his first year in medical school and instead he came back to try to help this team try to get to Omaha.”

JONATHAN FINCHER (LHP, R-Jr., Byrd) – “He came over here looking like an offensive lineman and we redshirted him. He needed to re-shape his body and to be honest, I didn’t know if he was going to make it at this level. He absolutely attacks the strike zone with his fastball. He gets a lot of swings-and-misses with his fastball. He sits at about 88 (miles per hour) but it looks 93. He plays up because of his spin rate. Some guys can just do that with their spin rate and he’s one of them. It’s a gift.”

RIGGS EASTERLING (INF, Soph., Loyola) – “His Fall was just OK and I think he was worried about making the team (as a transfer from Mississippi Delta CC) but he’s been really good this Spring. I’m excited about him. I won’t hesitate to put him in if we have an injury or need to pinch run.”

SLADE NETTERVILLE (INF, Fr., Byrd) – “He has improved so much. He’s a tremendous defender at third base. He’s been swinging the bat really good lately. He probably went from being a guy who was a 100 percent redshirt to someone I told the other day needs to be prepared. If we have to make moves in the middle of the game, he might be in there. We won’t hesitate to put him out there if we have to.”

JACK WALKER (OF, Fr., Byrd) – “You know what I love about him? You would never know his dad was a major leaguer and maybe one of the best to ever play college baseball. I’d be willing to bet you half of our team doesn’t know his dad is Todd Walker. He works extremely hard and comes to the ballpark every day to work. He has a really good swing and has turned himself into a really good outfielder. He’s a joy to be around. He never has a bad day.”

Photo by TIM SMITH/Louisiana Tech

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By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Parkway and Huntington cruised to second-round girls basketball playoff wins Monday while Southwood went into overtime to advance to the LHSAA state quarterfinals to be played Thursday.

Parkway (31-2), the No. 2 seed in Class 5A, had little resistance in posting a 72-35 defeat of Zachary on the road.

Junior Mikaylah Williams led the way with 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steals and 5 assists. Sophomore Chloe Larry scored 16 points with Ty’lissa Henderson (15) and Savannah Wilson (14) also in double figures for the Lady Panthers.

Parkway will host No. 10 Northshore (23-9) on Thursday seeking its second trip to the state semifinals. The Panthers’ only other semifinal appearance came in 2008 when they fell to No. 1 seed Ellender 71-44.

Southwood outscored East St. John 14-4 in overtime to take a 63-53 win on the road in Reserve, on the banks of the Mississippi RIver. Jermesha Frierson scored 12 of her game-high 24 points in the extra period. She also grabbed 12 rebounds and got scoring help from Ma’Shaylen Pratt who added 14, and Minnie Williams with 12.

The Lady Cowboys are 24-10 and the 11th seed and will travel to face No. 3 Lafayette (29-4). The Lions have won 11 straight with their last loss coming in the Hamilton Christian Tournament to Fairview (28-3) 57-55. Other losses include John Curtis, the No. 1 seed in Division I, and to Parkway by six in the West Monroe tournament.

Huntington made North Vermilion its latest victim by a score of 59-35 in the second round of Class 4A. The Lady Raiders (19-6) have won 13 straight with their last loss coming at the hands of Lafayette (69-41) on Dec. 18.

Kalea Dean had a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds in Monday’s win. Ka’Niya Moore tossed in 14 points and Jayla Allen added 10 points.

Huntington, the No. 5 seed, will travel to No. 4 South Lafourche, a 44-41 winner over Opelousas. The Raiders are the defending state runners-up and will be seeking their third straight trip to the semifinals and fifth overall.

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By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

His team was ahead 69-67 midway through the second half, which might have been good news at the time for LSUS basketball coach Kyle Blankenship, were it not for the fact that the Pilots had just blown most of a 15-point lead in all of about three minutes.

There were no great words of wisdom offered in a timeout. No great motivational message. Just a simple plan.

“We came out and just ran the same play about seven or eight times,” he said, “and we scored almost every time out of it.”

Indeed, the Pilots went on a 24-8 run over the next six minutes doing what they do best – shooting 3-pointers and attacking the glass. The result was a 104-82 win over arch-rival LSUA Tuesday night just off south Youree Drive.

The outcome clinched the Red River Athletic Conference title for LSUS with a 13-2 record (20-7 overall).

“I’m proud of my guys for not being flustered,” Blankenship said. “We told them before that it’s a game of runs and we have to have mental toughness and that’s what we showed tonight.”

It’s impressive to note that the Pilots got 37 points from their bench, but it’s even more impressive that 34 of those points came from sixth man Kevin Norman. The senior sank 9 of 11 3-pointers, adding six rebounds and six steals to cap off a career night.

“He’s from Alexandria and I know it was a pride game for him,” Blankenship said. “We’ve said we could have anybody step up, and he did.”

He wasn’t alone. Senior Leondre Washington scored 26 points, senior Jeff Boyd had 16 and junior Trey Johnson added 13.

“Guys stayed locked in and focused,” Blankenship said. “They executed what we told them to do and it worked.”

LSUS has only seven active players, so in the closing minutes, Blankenship had to re-substitute seniors back into the game to allow each of the five to get a farewell ovation from the large crowd at The Dock.

It’s hard to say whether Blankenship was happier about the 104 points his team scored or only the 82 that the high-tempo Generals could muster. “I’m just happy with the win,” he said. “No matter if we win by two or by 20. We knew if we played efficiently enough that we could (score 104).”

The Pilots closed their home season winning for the 12th time in 14 contests. “We haven’t lost very many times at home,” Blankenship said. “And I told them they had one more opportunity tonight for the seniors to protect The Dock and give the fans a show.”

LSUS will move into the conference tournament this weekend in Alexandria as the top seed.

“We did what we wanted to accomplish in the regular season,” Blankenship said. “That was to win a championship. Now we have to turn our focus to see if we can go win a conference tournament.”

Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL

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JOURNAL STAFF

Haughton used three pitchers to shut down Northwood and rode a 6-run third inning on its way to an 8-2 non-district baseball win Tuesday at Northwood.

Gary Rondeau picked up the win allowing just one hit in four innings of work. He struck out five.

Jackson Voigt had a 3-run home run to highlight the big 6-run third inning. Austin Anderson, Roman Tolbert and Colin Rains drove in the other three runs.

Tolbert had a pair of doubles in three at bats and drove in two runs. Nathan Hensley was also 2-for-3 with an RBI.

EVANGEL 2, PARKWAY 1: At Evangel, Jace Gill and Caleb Lenard combined on a 3-hitter to lead the Eagles past the Panthers. Gill was credited with the win by going 3 innings and giving up just one run on two hits, striking out three. Kody Jackson hit a solo home run in the first for the Eagles and Brock Reedy scored on an error in the second inning for ECA’s runs. Reedy and Parker Fulghum both had two hits for Evangel. Zach Schoenborn had two hits for Parkway.

CAPTAIN SHREVE 10, NORTH CADDO 3: The host Gators had 11 hits headed up by Walker Wicklund’s 3-for-4 day with four RBIs. Korbyn Harrell and Bryce and Powell both added a pair of hits with Powell getting a double and Harrell a triple.

SOFTBALL

BENTON 10, CONVERSE 0: Ava Defee pitched a six-inning, one-hit shutout to lead the Lady Tigers, now 3-0. Defee struck out 12 batters and walked just two. Olivia Burns and Piper Stephens both had three hits with Burns driving in four runs and Stephens three. Burns had a double while Stephens tripled and homered in the game.

FLORIEN 15, CAPTAIN SHREVE 14 (8 innings); The Lady Gators fell short after scoring seven runs the sixth and seventh innings to force the game into an extra frame. Marina Elkins had two hits, one a double, and drove in four runs, Elexa Beaudoin rposted two hits, including a home run, and brought in three runs. Aubry Townsend singled and doubled and had 3 RBIs for Shreve, now 3-1.

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By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

Sports betting is alive and well in Louisiana. What better time to unleash Lang’s Locks.

Every Wednesday, we will post picks for the week’s golf tournaments. We will also appear for other plays when they pop up. Let’s make a little money!

Earned more than 1 unit last week on the strength of top-20 finishes from Matt Jones (+900) and Mito Pereira (+800) at Riviera.

A reminder, top-20 betting is where the money is to be made in golf!

We try again this week. The PGA Tour’s Honda Classic is the only event we’re dipping into. I didn’t find any value in the win betting at the Honda Classic, but plenty of opportunities for T20.

Notes

All bets are measured in units. For instance, if your normal bet on a game is $100, that is one unit. If the bet is listed as .2 units, it’s a $20 bet.

Best line (as of Tuesday) is listed in parenthesis. Find the best price, one key to being a successful sports bettor! Shop around!

Sportsbook legend

CAE: Caesar’s
FD: Fan Duel
MGM: Bet MGM
DK: DraftKings
BS: Barstool

LANG’S LOCKS

Last week recap: 1.2-unit profit

THIS WEEK’S SELECTIONS

Golf

PGA Tour, Honda Classic

Top 20 Bets

Chris Stroud, +1200, .2 units (CAE)
Mackenzie Hughes, +270, .2u (FD)
Charles Howell III, +360, .1u (FD)
Robert Streb, +600, .1u (CAE)
J.J. Spaun,+600, .1u (FD)
Shane Lowry, +220, .1 (FD)
Anirban Lahiri,+ 700, .1u (CAE)
Patrick Rodgers, +470, .1u (FD)
Kramer Hickok, +550, .1u (CAE)
Kevin Tway, +700, .1u (FD)
Seth Reeves, +1200, .1u (CAE)

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JOURNAL STAFF

Loyola boys basketball coach Ben Schonfarber was on a chartered bus Wednesday, headed for Baton Rouge for the Flyers’ Division II playoff game with University Lab, when he had to head back home.

Schonfarber didn’t figure there would be any way his pregnant wife would go into labor when he left Shreveport but he was wrong. Informed two hours into the bus ride, the Loyola coach’s dad was riding behind the bus and brought him back while the Flyer basketball team continued on to their game.

The 15th seed Flyers fought hard Wednesday night before falling the the No. 2 seeded Cubs 62-44 at the Pennington McKernan Gymnasium.

Jacob Lafitte scored 9 of his team-high 12 points for Loyola in the first half as the Flyers trailed 32-20 at the break. John Carmody Jr. was next for LCP with 9 points and three 3-point makes beyond the arc and Tray Taylor scored six of his 8 points in the second half.

Zaren James scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the first half for University Lab.

Loyola finished its season at 13-18 and University moves on with a 19-5 record.

BYRD 58, ST. AUGUSTINE 57: The Yellow Jackets, a No. 9 seed in Division I, made the trek to New Orleans to face the No. 8 seed Purple Knights and came away with the narrow victory. Byrd evened its record at 14-14 and will have to go back on the road Friday for a date with No. 1 seed St. Paul’s (25-4).

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JOURNAL STAFF

District 1, Division I girls soccer coaches recently announced its All-District team for 2021-22 and Most Valuable Player honors were spread amongst the top teams in the district.

Byrd and Captain Shreve tied for the district title with both finishing 7-0-2 and both were represented with MVPs. Byrd senior Katie Smith was selected as the Defensive MVP and Shreve junior Emma Bradford was named the Overall MVP. Pineville finished in the middle of the district standings but had the Offensive MVP in junior Allison Clear.

West Monroe finished in third just under Byrd and Shreve with a 7-1-1 record and coach Chris Barron was named the Coach of the Year.

Here is a complete list of the All-District team:

Division I, District 1

GIRLS

FIRST TEAM

Forward – Maya Jackson, Parkway, Sr.

Forward – Landry Jones, Byrd, Sr.

Forward – Alwx Knight, Captain Shreve, Fr.

Forward – Jentri Richardson, West Monroe, Jr.

Forward – Khiana Roraback, Byrd, Sr.

Midfielder – Sarah Crenshaw, ASH, Jr.

Midfielder – Anna Hobart, Natchitoches Central, Fr.

Midfielder – Ellie Lawrence, Byrd, Jr.

Midfielder – Kylie Rourke, Captain Shreve, Sr.

Midfielder – Alia Sanchez, West Monroe, Fr.

Defender – Skylar, Byrd, Sr.

Defender – Rachael Burns, Airline, So.

Defender – Ella Grace Davis, Captain Shreve, Jr.

Defender – Alexis Guillory, ASH, Jr.

Defender – Layla Webster, Pineville, Sr.

Goalkeeper – Emerson Roberts, Byrd, Sr.

Goalkeeper – Avery Watson, Captain Shreve, Fr.

Overall MVP – Emma Bradford, Captain Shreve, Jr.

Offensive MVP – Allison Clear, Pineville, Sr.

Defensive MVP – Katie Smith, Byrd, Sr.

Coach of the Year – Chris Barron, West Monroe

SECOND TEAM

Forwards – Maddie Aubrey, Captain Shreve, So.; Ava Fatheree, Natchitoches Central, So.; Melyssa Mitchell, Alexandria, Sr.; Katie Rose Stage, Byrd, Jr.; Olivia Tuberoso, West Monroe, So. Midfielders – Isabel Bright, Parkway, So.; Maygen Jackson, Pineville, Jr.; Jessica Juarez, West Monroe, Sr.; Elizabeth Klotzbach, Byrd, Jr.; Brooklyn Lattier, Captain Shreve, Jr.; Defenders – Adele Bihler, Airline, Sr.; Lily Blaylock, Byrd, So.; Shay Church, Natchitoches Central; Isabella Hamilton, Captain Shreve, So.; Marie Smith, Parkway, Jr.; Ashley Williams, Pineville, Sr. Goalkeepers – Aubri Dupre, Parkway, Jr.; Alyssa Nix, West Monroe, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION: Airline: Aly Campbell, Jr.; Bianca Pantaze, Jr.; Jewell Molina, Sr.; Katie Jump, Sr.; Alexandria – Azaria Hooker, Sr.; Kiersten Hagan, Sr.; Baylee Guillory, Fr.; Byrd – Khaela Roraback, Fr.; Chloe Miller, Jr.; Evelyn Little, Jr.; Captain Shreve – Nadia Onsarigo, Sr.; Emily Moffett, Sr.; Ella Rossi, So.; Natchitoches Central – Anna Catherine Coleman; Mackenzie Johnson; Victoria Wiggins; Parkway – Amaya Beckwith, Sr.; Cammie Dun, Jr.; Hallie Worthy, Jr.; Pineville – Greta Murrell, Sr.; Jackson Bridges, Sr.; Annalee Stevens, So.; Ruston – Tambri Leedy, Sr.; Reagan McCullough, Jr.; Morgan Foster, Fr.; Southwood – Breoanna Glover, Jr.; Gabriele Lakes, Sr.; Eleena Sepulvado, Fr.; West Monroe – Harley Lockwood, So.; Mae Moody, So.; Avery Bower, Jr.; Stephanie Borecki, Jr.

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JOURNAL STAFF

Byrd and Alexandria Senior High finished atop the District 1, Division I standings and both schools swept the league’s top honors on the 2021-22 All-District team selected by the league coaches.

The Yellow Jackets Andrew Stuart, a senior, was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player and sophomore Matthew Booras was selected the Defensive MVP. Noor Asa, a senior at ASH, was picked as the Overall Most Valuable Player and his coach Sons Pathoumthong was named the Coach of the Year.

Byrd won the league with a 8-0 record and ASH was just a game behind at 7-1.

Here is a complete list of the team:

Division I, District 1

BOYS

FIRST TEAM

Forward – Jorge Tinoco, Airline, Sr.

Forward – Abel Peterman, Alexandria, Sr.

Forward – Jack Price, Alexandria, Sr.

Forward – Collin Elston, Captain Shreve, Jr.

Midfielder – Christian Hyde, Alexandria, Sr.

Midfielder – Andrew Bradford, Captain Shreve, So.

Midfielder – Mackenzie Soul, Byrd, Sr.

Midfielder – Jaiden Langiulli, Ruston, Jr.

Midfielder – Will Triche, Pineville, Jr.

Midfielder – Kareem El-Giar, West Monroe, Jr.

Defender – Tyson Burns, Airline, Sr.

Defender – Defender –Eythan Foxworth, Alexandria, Sr.

Defender – Andrew Clark, Captain Shreve, Sr.

Defender – Michael Cosse, Byrd, Sr.

Defender – Alex Gremillion, Pineville, Sr.

Goalkeeper – Michael Hamauei, Byrd, Sr.

Overall MVP — Noor Isa, Alexandria, Sr.

Offensive MVP — Andrew Stuart, Byrd, Sr.

Defensive MVP — Matthew Booras, Byrd, So.

Coach of the Year — Sons Pathoumthong, Alexandria

SECOND TEAM

Goalkeepers – Evan Byrd, Alexandria, Jr., Evan O’Brien, Pineville, Sr., Defenders – Garrison Manzer, Alexandria, Sr., Andrew Pernell, Captain Shreve, Sr., Dixon Doege, Captain Shreve, Sr., Brennan Nguyen, Byrd, So., Bruce Nolan, Byrd, So., Cayden Henry, West Monroe, Jr., Midfielders – Daniel Gama, Alexandria, Sr., Matt Miley, Captain Shreve, Sr., Carson French, Byrd, So., Clark Fontenot, Pineville, Sr., Brendan O’Toole, West Monroe, Jr., ; Forwards – Garret Gulett, Byrd, So., Justin Descant, Pineville, So., Wilson Garcia, West Monroe, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION: Airline — Kenneth Dickson, Sr., DEF; Thang Mung, So., FWD; Matthew Posey, Fr., GK; Alexandria — Mussa Iqbal, Sr., MID; Brady Tassin, Sr., DEF; Caden Meche, Jr., FWD; Byrd — Caleb Kidd, Sr., MID; Connor McCarter, Sr., MID; Josh Witton, Sr., DEF; Captain Shreve — Juan Gomez, Sr., MID; Connor Tisdale, Sr., MID, Brett Pernell, Fr., DEF; Pineville — Lane Cooper, Sr., DEF; Sergio Rivera, Sr., MID,; Qusai Zeidan, Fr., FWD; Ruston — Cayden DeForest, Sr., GK; Octavio Hernandez, Sr., MID; Christopher Harps, Jr., DEF; Southwood — Limaou Diene, Jr., FWD; Luis Amable, Jr., GK; West Monroe — Don O’Toole, So., FWD; Elijah Ritchie, Sr., MID; Mason Thomson, Sr.

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High School Basketball

BOYS

Division I First round playoffs

Byrd 58, St. Augustine 57

Division II First round playoffs

University Lab 62, Loyola 44

High School Baseball

Captain Shreve 10, North Caddo 3
Evangel 2, Parkway 1
Haughton 8, Northwood 2
Bossier at Southwood, ppd.
Huntington at Minden, ppd.

High School Softball

Benton 10, Converse 0
Florien 15, Captain Shreve 14
Haughton 9, West Ouachita 6

College Baseball

Bossier Parish 7, Panola 3

College Basketball

WOMEN

LSUS 66, LSUA 37

MEN

LSUS 104, LSUA 82

College Softball

ULM 11, Grambling St. 4

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JOURNAL STAFF

GRAMBLING – The Grambling State softball team started fast Tuesday afternoon, but visiting ULM closed with a vengeance in an 11-4 victory over the Lady Tigers.

Grambling (5-3) jumped on top in the first inning on Antiya Randle’s two-run single, then doubled its output in the third highlighted by Ta’mya Johnson’s steal of home.

ULM (10-2) responded immediately, going up 5-4 in the top of the fourth, capped by a two-run Alexis Chavez double, and opened an 8-4 lead an inning later. Andie Edwards and Kennedy Page each cracked two-run homers as the Warhawks lashed 13 hits, and Kassidy Givens threw 4.2 innings of hitless relief.

BASEBALL

BOSSIER PARISH 7, PANOLA 3: At BPCC, the Cavaliers scored all of their runs the first three innings in a 7-inning Region XIV win Tuesday. Alejandro Cazoria delivered the biggest blow for BPCC with a 3-run home run in a 4-run second inning. Cazoria and Mason Hammonds both had a pair of hits with Cazoria driving in four runs for the Cavs (9-2, 2-1). Weather forced postponement of the second game.

ULM-NORTHWESTERN STATE: Tuesday evening’s meeting was postponed by a daunting forecast in Natchitoches and reset for 3 p.m. today at Brown-Stroud Field. Good move: drenching rain arrived at sundown. Score one for the weather forecasters.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

LSUS 66, LSUA 37: At the Dock, the Lady Pilots pulverized the visiting Lady Generals, taking control early while opening a 25-7 first-quarter advantage. DeAuja Thompson led LSUS (15-12, 10-5 RRAC) with 19 points, while Nykeria Jones scored 13 and snatched 7 rebounds. Ciera Daniels added 10 points and 6 rebounds. LSUA (7-17, 7-8) got 10 points and 10 boards by Brittney Smith but shot 30 percent and suffered 28 turnovers.

Photo courtesy ULM

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