Wednesday

College Basketball

BPCC women at Paris, 5:30 p.m.
La-Monroe men at Georgia St., 6 p.m.
Kilgore at BPCC men, 7 p.m.
LSU men at Kentucky, 8 p.m.

High School Basketball

Boys Division IV First round playoffs

(15) Cedar Creek at (2) Calvary, 7:30 p.m.

College Baseball

Kellogg CC at Bossier Parish, 2 p.m.
ULM at Northwestern State, 3 p.m.
LSU at Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m.

High School Baseball

Huntington at Haynesville, 5:30 p.m.
Woodlawn at Red River, DH, 4 p.m.

High School Softball

Parkway at Caddo Magnet, 5 p.m.
Northwood at River Oaks, 5:30

Thursday

College Basketball

Jarvis Christian at LSUS women, 5:30
Northwestern St. women at Incarnate Word, 5:30 p.m.
LSU women at Mississippi St., 6 p.m.
UTEP at Louisiana Tech men, 6:30 p.m.
La-Lafayette at La-Monroe men, 6:30 p.m.
Northwestern St. men at Incarnate Word, 7:30 p.m.
Jarvis Christian at LSUS men, 7:30
Louisiana Tech women at UTEP, 8 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 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.

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

Harvey B. Ratcliffe, Jr.
April 4, 1940 – February 18, 2022
Visitation: 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Bossier City

Barbara Ann Buchanan Shillcutt
August 9, 1940 – February 18, 2022
Services:  Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Benton, 201 Bellevue Street, Benton

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

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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By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

In sports, they like to say when two rivals meet that “you can throw the records out the window” because the game is so important that it doesn’t matter what kind of season the two teams are having.

In the case of tonight’s game between LSUS and LSUA, you might want to close the window. These are two teams whose records are worth keeping.

The LSUS Pilots, 19-7, will play host to the 19-4 Generals at 7:30 p.m. at The Dock on the campus of LSUS. It’s the final game of the regular season, and a win by LSUS will give the Pilots the outright title in the Red River Athletic Conference, traditionally one of the country’s stronger NAIA Division I basketball leagues.

Since LSUA started its program eight years ago, either the Pilots or the Generals have won the conference championship. At 12-2, the Pilots have a one-game lead in the conference standings and have clinched at least a share of the title.

“They are definitely our biggest rival, there is no doubt about that,” LSUS coach Kyle Blankenship said. “In our series, it always seems like there is always something significant on the line each time we play, whether it it’s for the conference title or position in the national rankings.”

Just in case this game needed any more juice, the two teams met earlier this year; LSUS won 71-66 in Alexandria.

“That was a big win down there,” Blankenship said. “It was our second time to ever win there and they’ve got a 90 percent winning percentage at home in their eight years. We’re the only team that’s beaten them twice at their place.”

Something else significant was the performance of Jeff Boyd in Saturday’s game. The 6-6 senior from Chicago scored 47 points in a 113-74 win over Texas College to set the stage for tonight’s game. “He can score in bunches,” Blankenship said. “We are only playing with seven guys right now and we needed someone to step up. I couldn’t be any happier for him.”

What is interesting about tonight’s matchup is how the pace of the game will play out. The Pilots love to get up and down the floor – they averaged 80 points per game – but they look like rented mules compared to the Generals.

“It’s going to come down to whether we can control the pace of the game,” Blankenship said. “We have loved to play up-tempo in the past but we are a little more controlled this year. LSUA wants to play fast. They are great in transition, probably the best in the country, so our transition defense is going to have to slow them down. If we can make it a half-court game, that will increase our chances of winning.”

The Pilots have been hot lately, winning 10 of the last 11. Since Dec. 9, LSUS is 13-2. “We have played really great basketball along the way,” Blankenship said. “We had arguably the toughest non-conference schedule in the country. We played the No. 1 team twice (Loyola), played a Top 10 team on a neutral court and then beat the No. 6 team on the road. That’s the win that kind of propelled us into the success we’ve had in January and February.”

It was against Southwest Assembly of God University, a Division III Final Four team a year ago. The Pilots have also played North Texas and Louisiana Tech in exhibition games.

“Those games against Division I teams set the tone for us,” Blankenship said. “It made us tougher and made us understand what it takes to win. We know there’s nobody we will play that’s better than those two.”

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By PRESTON EDWARDS, Journal Sports

“We treat every game like it is a big game…like it is a state championship game,” were the words of coach Brian Shyne before his Huntington Lady Raiders played the Lady Patriots from North Vermilion in a Class 4A playoff matchup.

Huntington came into Monday’s contest having not dropped a game since its loss to Lafayette in January. As a matter of fact, Huntington had won 14 of its last 15 games including a first-round drubbing of South Terrebonne. So, needless to say, the Lady Raiders were feeling confident on Monday night, with good reason.

It wasn’t as smooth as the final 59-35 score indicated, but Huntington is two steps down the path to Marsh Madness, with one more to go later this week.

Both teams had a hard time settling into the contest as they kept turning over the ball. Couple that with both teams being in the bonus after one quarter, it was a miracle that Huntington found a way to take a 13-5 lead after one.

In the second quarter, Ka’Niya Moore finally got things rolling offensively and the Lady Raider defense held the Lady Patriots to another single-digit quarter. Huntington moved out to a solid 29-10 advantage at the break.

Even though Huntington was held to 8 points in the third frame, they were too far ahead for the Lady Patriots to mount a successful comeback. Ka’Niya Moore got some additional help from Kalea Dean and the rest of the squad as Huntington prevailed by 24 over North Vermilion.

The Lady Patriots did not do themselves any favors from the charity stripe shooting 11-of-32.

After the game, coach Shyne talked about battling through adversity.

“They (North Vermilion) are a team that does not quit,” Shyne said. “I feel like we did a good job of sticking together when things weren’t going our way. The effort was there. We just need to clean up a few things.”

Moore and Dean combined for 30 points (16 and 14 respectively) for the Lady Raiders. They helped right the ship of a sputtering offense as North Vermilion made a second-half push. The Lady Raiders’ defense finally kicked it into another gear as they limited the Lady Patriots leading scorer on the night, Jenna Gibson, to muster only 8 points.

Shyne talked about the importance of his two leading scorers.

“We heavily depend on Kalea and Ka’Niya to make plays for us,” Shyne said. “I thought they played pretty solid overall. They played tough and gritty in the paint and we are going to need that moving forward.”

With the victory, Huntington moves on to the quarterfinals and will travel to Galliano, to play the South Lafourche Lady Tarpons.

North Vermilion finishes its season with a 21-10 record.

Photo: by PRESTON EDWARDS

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By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports

When Jamie Johnson was asked to sum up this season in one word, the Northwood girls basketball coach paused and said, “Encouraged. For some reason, we’re encouraged.”

It may be hard to understand how Johnson would feel that way after the Lady Falcons were soundly defeated by Edna Karr (New Orleans) 61-20 in the second round of the LHSAA Class 4A playoffs. Sitting courtside afterward, in an empty Northwood gymnasium Monday night, Johnson nonetheless found plenty of reasons to feel encouraged.

First of all, the Lady Falcons got farther than many people thought they would this year. There were disappointing losses, like Monday’s game against the No. 3-seeded Lady Cougars that saw Northwood go the entire third quarter without scoring. With the loss, the No. 19-seeded Lady Falcons finished 19-14. Edna Karr (22-11) will face Houma’s A.J. Ellender (19-4) in the quarterfinals Thursday night.

“This season has been a roller coaster,” said Johnson, who took over the coaching reins just six months ago. “There have been highs and lows. Like most things new, it has been hard.”

The highs included victories against teams the Lady Falcons weren’t expected to beat. Unfortunately, despite the winning record, the lows outnumbered the highs.

“Our girls faced a lot of adversity this year,” explained Johnson. “They went through three coaching changes in a year. Covid changed how we could coach and how we could practice. We lost starters to injury. Some players left. Overall, I think our production level surpassed expectations.”

Northwood’s 42-35 road victory over No. 14-seeded Pearl River in the first round of the playoffs was perhaps the biggest unexpected victory of the 2021-2022 season. One of the lows came Monday night when the Lady Falcons couldn’t find any answers against a faster, more physical, more talented Edna Karr team.

“It was almost like we forgot how to play,” said Johnson. “Tonight, experience got us.”

Experience, turnovers, and blocked shots. Senior forward Tatyana Barber, who led Edna Karr with a game-high 17 points, had six of the Lady Cougars’ double-digit blocks.

Taykayla Sparks led the Lady Falcons with 6 points, followed by Z’Kya Bell (5 points) and Lashundra Dulfield (4 points).

Karr got off to a quick start and an 11-0 lead before Emily Foster hit a 3-pointer to put Northwood on the board midway through the first quarter. Despite putting up a strong effort in the second quarter when Northwood was able to score 9 points, Karr – and the scoring deficit – was too much to overcome.

“They were physical and disciplined,” Johnson said of the Lady Cougars. “I’ve got to take my hat off to them.”

After taking a 33-14 halftime lead, Karr outscored Northwood 17-0 in the third quarter. Despite falling behind by as many as 36 points, the Lady Falcons continued to fight until the final buzzer.

“The bad days made us stronger,” said Johnson. “In the end, with all the adversity, I’m encouraged by how we bonded together as a team this season.”

Photo: Top – by John Penrod

Photo: Bottom by John Penrod

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By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Southwood hit its free throws in overtime to defeat East St. John 63-53 in Reserve Monday night, and moved on to the quarterfinals of the Class 5A girls basketball playoffs.

Jermesha Frierson sank six straight free throws in the final minute of OT to put away the No. 6 Ladycats. Frierson scored 12 of her 24 points in the extra period to lead the No. 11-seeded Lady Cowboys.

The final margin was the largest lead of the game as neither team could shake the other during regulation.

Southwood took a 49-46 lead on a 3-pointer from Ma’Shaylen Pratt with 50 seconds left in regulation.

Twice the Lady Cowboys went to the line to shoot 1-and-1s with a chance to widen the lead, the last with 8 seconds left. ESJ didn’t miss its second chance to tie the game as Ashia Ward hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with a little more than a second left to send it into overtime tied 49-49.

Frierson had 12 rebounds to give her a double-double. Pratt finished with 14 points and Minnie Williams added 12 points for Southwood, now 24-10. The Lady Cowboys will be back on the road in the quarterfinals at No. 3 Lafayette.

East St. John finished the season with a 26-4 record.

PARKWAY 72, ZACHARY 35: At Zachary, Mikaylah Williams tallied 20 points and Chloe Larry 15 as the No. 2 Lady Panthers improved to 31-2 on the season. Parkway will return home to host No. 10 Northshore in the quarterfinals.

NORTHSHORE 49, CAPTAIN SHREVE 43: At Captain Shreve, the Lady Panthers outscored the hosts 36-28 in the second half for the second-round win. Tiarra Tillison led all scorers for 10th seeded Northshore (23-9) with 23 points and Tierra Sylvas added 10. Freshman Carley Hamilton led the Gators (14-17) with 20 points.

WALKER 61, AIRLINE 40: The host Lady Wildcats used second-half defensive pressure to build on their 28-22 halftime lead in taking the second round Class 5A matchup. The Lady Vikings (23-13) were led by Kayla Hampton’s 9 points that all came in the first half. The top-ranked ‘Cats (29-1) got a game-high 17 points from Caitlin Travis and Ray’Onna Sterling added 15.

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High School Basketball
Girls Playoffs

Parkway 72, Zachary 35
Walker 61, Airline 40
Southwood 63, East St. John 53, OT
Northshore 49, Captain Shreve 43
Huntington 59, North Vermilion 35
Karr 61, Northwood 20
Northwood-Lena 75, Plain Dealing 35

High School Baseball

West Monroe 8, Airline 2
Haughton 8, Alexandria 1
Evangel 5, Benton 0
Byrd 4, Neville 2
Captain Shreve 9, Glenbrook 2
Calvary 4, Parkway 1
North DeSoto 11, Southwood 1
Northwood 23, Doyline 1
Downsville 15, Woodlawn 1
Loyola 6, Zwolle 0

High School Softball

Captain Shreve 16, Lakeside 0, 3 innings
Neville at Haughton, ppd.
Calvary 11, Ouachita 0

College Baseball

Centenary 13-12, Alma 3-2

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By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Austin Anderson gave up just 3 hits in six innings as visiting Haughton defeated Alexandria 8-1 Monday on this year’s opening day for high school baseball.

Anderson struck out 11 and walked just one. He got run support form five Bucs who drove in runs. Colin Rains and Connor Blank were both 2-for-4 with an RBI for Haughton. Nick Hensley added a double and RBI as well.

WEST MONROE 8, AIRLINE 2: The Vikings dropped the season opener on the road. Matthew Scripture, Harrison Waxley, Mason Morgan and Keegan Lehr all had hits for Airline on the day.

CALVARY 4, PARKWAY 1: Drew Bickham allowed just six hits in five innings of work and struck out 7 to get the win for the Cavs. Bickham also had a pair of hits in 3 at bats and Caden Flowers was 2-for-4 with and RBI. Logan Fontenot added a home run for Calvary. Zach Shoenborn led Parkway with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate and drove in the lone run.

LOYOLA 6, ZWOLLE 0: William Soignier pitched a 5-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts as the Flyers won their season opener. Konnor O’Neal was 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs and Peyton Thomas was 2-for-3.

BYRD 4, NEVILLE 2: David Favrot settled down after giving up two runs in the first inning and didn’t allow another run in the final 6 innings to get the complete-game win for the Yellow Jackets.

CAPTAIN SHREVE 9, GLENBROOK 2: The Gators had seven different players with hits and four different pitchers gave up just five hits in getting the season-opening win.

SOFTBALL

CAPTAIN SHREVE 16, LAKESIDE 0, 3 innings: Elexa Beaudoin and Nora Falcon both had three hits with Beaudoin getting a pair of doubles while driving in three runs. Falcon drove in four runs. Mikel-Ann Ricardo didn’t allow a hit in the three innings and struck out five for CS, now 3-0.

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The Louisiana High School Athletic Association released playoff pairings for the boys basketball championships Monday. It means the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat that Jim McKay spouted about is close behind.

That’s right. The hopes and dreams of young men and their coaches from 14 local schools winning a state title will either be fed into a frenzy or beaten to a pulp. It just depends on how the ball bounces.

While 14 schools participating is a good number, the truth is only a handful have a legitimate shot for a run in the 2022 playoffs. So here is the good, the bad, and the ugly of what I think will happen on the road to Marsh Madness.

Legit title contenders (Bossier, Captain Shreve, & Calvary Baptist)

Bossier, Captain Shreve, and Calvary Baptist can win it all. The Bearkats are the 3A No. 2 seed and will host district foe Green Oaks in round one. Their road may include three Monroe schools in Richwood, Carroll, and Wossman, with the latter coming in Lake Charles. However, I do not think Coach Bohanan and his troops would have it any other way. I see them playing Madison Prep for the 3A title.

Captain Shreve has a real chance to play for a 5A championship. The Gators are long, athletic, and play probably the best defense of any Caddo-Bossier team. They might be the only opponent that Zachary has not played that will give the Broncos fits defensively.

Two-time Division IV state runner-up Calvary has been down this road before. To avoid a third runner-up finish, 6-7 senior forward Labree Williams will have to be dominant in every round. Country Day, Southern Lab and Hamilton Christian stand in their way. Considering Calvary has the most experience of that group, I think the third time is a charm for the Cavs.

Teams making a run (Huntington, Woodlawn, & Evangel)

1-4A champion Huntington has a tough road ahead. The possibility of facing Washington-Marion, Northside, or Beau Chene before even making it to Lake Charles is daunting. The Raiders’ reward may be a chance to play Carver at full strength with a title-game trip on the line. If it happens, that game will be a must watch.

Woodlawn will have a road of ghosts from playoffs past to face. Livonia will be the Knights’ first matchup, with Neville and defending 4A champ McMain looming in the quarters.

Evangel may have the shortest toughest playoff road in Division II. A regional round win may give them a matchup with Archbishop Hannan on the road. To face University Lab in Lake Charles, the Eagles’ guards, especially Lance Waddles, will have to play very well.

These teams have a chance (Southwood, BTW, & Airline)

Southwood can cause so many problems with Jeremiah Evans and Rodrick Brown clogging the paint. If the Cowboys recapture the magic from their six-game winning streak, they can make a legit run. If not, their dreams will die in the bi-district round to West Monroe.

Airline has the toughest route, on the road to Mandeville. A win there will more than likely bring No. 1 Zachary to Viking Drive. While I have supreme confidence in Eddie Hamilton and his coaching skills, his game plan might not be enough.

The BTW Lions will face Breaux Bridge at home in round one. A win gives them a return trip to No. 3 McMain. While they will be more prepared, I think they will meet the same unfortunate fate as last year.

Thanks for participating

Green Oaks travels to Bossier while Northwood, North Caddo, Loyola Prep and Byrd all have to make a long trip down south to play higher seeds, teams that made it to Marsh Madness. North Caddo has the best chance to win a game. However, I think they will all be one-and-done.

The thrill of victory (the Quest) and the agony of defeat (the Anguish) will begin for all local schools on Friday. Let’s hope there are more thrills than agony, for their sakes.

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By JERRY BYRD JR., Journal Sports

Captain Shreve sprinter Marquez “Macho” Stevenson came into the 2022 LHSAA State Indoor Championships with quite the resume’. For starters, he was the only current competitor in the state who had broken the 50-second barrier over 400 meters.

However, there was one glaring omission — a state championship.

Only a junior, Stevenson can now check the “state champion” box off his “To Do” list. He won in 48.93. a time that puts him No. 23 on the national list of top prep indoor marks for 2022.

Last spring, Stevenson arrived on the track and field scene after basketball season and quickly made his way from one of the best in 2021 to one of the area’s best — ever.

He took third at the LHSAA Outdoor Championships (48.57) in early May. A couple months later, he carved nearly two seconds off his personal record. Stevenson clocked 46.85 at the AAU Junior Olympics in Humble, Texas, moving past Mansfield’s Jerry Wilson’s 46.91 to the top of the all-time Caddo-Bossier performance list.

On Saturday, Stevenson had bigger goals than a gold medal.

“I wanted to break the (state meet) record,” Stevenson said. “But I came up short. I put this race in God’s hands. I just went out and ran.”

The Division I record in the 400 is 48.29 was set in 2018 by Zachary’s Sean Burrell, who won a national championship in the 400 hurdles for LSU last spring. The LHSAA Indoor State Composite record is 48.15 set by J.S. Clark’s Ashton Collins in 2001.

Captain Shreve football offensive coordinator Adam Kirby stood at the rail watching his wide receiver as he LHSAA director Eddie Bonine placed the gold medal around Stevenson’s neck.

“I’ve never coached an athlete that fast,” Kirby said, an ominous statement for Gator foes this fall.

At this point there are only three or four coaches in the state who have, but none in Northwest Louisiana.

Stevenson was appreciative of Kirby and other coaches traveling to Baton Rouge to watch him compete.

And also thankful for the efforts of his mother, Alecima Stevenson, who along with an army of supporters who casts 37,527 votes for MileSplit Louisiana’s Performer of the Week last week.

“It means a lot,” Stevenson said of the support. “It shows that people are looking out for me.”

Other area state champions included Northwestern State signee Peyten Ware of North Webster, who vaulted 11-1.75. Ware also finished fourth in the Division II long jump with a best of 16-7.25.

As Ware stepped off the podium, she crossed the track at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse to hug her father, North Webster head football coach John Ware.

“He cried,” Ware said of her father during the hug. “He probably won’t like me saying that, but he cried. This was my biggest dream, and his.”

Another area state champion was Mansfield’s Jayden Youngblood, who is the first indoor state champion in school history for the Wolverines. Youngblood won the Division II 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.31.

While she didn’t win a state championship, Huntington sophomore Demetria Harris did score 16 points with two second-place finishes. Harris finished second in the 60 hurdles (8.78) and 60 meters (7.76).

The 60 meter hurdles race was fast. Scotlandville sophomore Makeriah Harris won (8.60), Harris was second and Ruston’s Bryanna Craig finished third (8.82). They rank among the top 13 girls hurdlers in the nation.

Photo:  by KYLE VALDEZ/Milesplit

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Tuesday
College Basketball

LSUA at LSUS women, 5:30
LSUA at LSUS men, 7:30

College Baseball

Kellogg CC vs. Bossier Parish, at Centenary, 2 p.m.
Southwestern Assemblies of God at LSUS, 2 p.m.
La-Monroe at Northwestern St., 6 p.m.

College Softball

La-Monroe at Grambling St., 2 p.m.
Centenary at Texas A&M-Texarkana, DH, 4 p.m.

High School Baseball

Haughton at Northwood, 5 p.m.
Huntington at Minden, 5 p.m.
Plain Dealing at Weston, 5 p.m.
North Caddo at Captain Shreve, 6 p.m.
Parkway at Evangel, 6 p.m.
Bossier at Southwood, 6 p.m.

High School Softball

Airline at Many
Captain Shreve at Florien, 5:30
Haughton at West Ouachita, 5:30
Parkway at Evangel
Simsboro at Southwood
Caddo Magnet at Loyola, 5 p.m.
Plain Dealing at Green Oaks

Wednesday
High School Baseball

Woodlawn at Red River, DH, 4 p.m.
Huntington at Haynesville, 5:30 p.m.

High School Softball

Parkway at Caddo Magnet, 5 p.m.
Northwood at River Oaks, 5:30

College Basketball

BPCC women at Paris, 5:30|
Kilgore at BPCC men, 7 p.m.

College Baseball

Panola at Bossier Parish, DH, 1 p.m.
LSU at Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m.

Note: The above schedule is subject to cancellations or reschedule

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Caddo Parish

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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By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Sports

A horse owner, as well as a fan of thoroughbred racing, Mike Whitler loved going to Louisiana Downs when it was the place to be.

But there was one drawback to the track’s popularity.

“Having a difficult time finding your car after the races, because there were so many cars in the parking lot,” he recalls.

From when the track opened in 1974, through the 1980s, crowds of 15,000-20,000 would often click through the turnstiles. Racing form in hand and cash in pocket, the rich, poor, and in-between, occupied the high-rising grandstand between I-20 and Highway 80 on the eastern edge of Bossier City. On holidays, crowds could even be larger. From the I-20 off-ramp, you were darn near blinded by sun flares reflecting off the top of cars and trucks.

Truth be told, Whitler would once again love to have trouble finding his car. He believes Kevin Preston just might eventually make it happen.

Preston is the President of Rubico Acquisition Corporation. That’s the company which, last November, bought Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack from Caesars Entertainment and VICI Properties for $22 million.

You can already see changes at the 48-year-old racetrack. It’s been power washed. There’s fresh paint inside, a different color paint on the tote board outside (bright white has replaced faded green), and there is more colorful landscaping.

Whitler, who is a state inspector for the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders and Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders, has taken notice.

“Kevin’s done more in two-and-a-half months than the previous owners (combined) did in 25 years.”

But while aesthetics are pleasing, they don’t do much to help the quality of racing. Preston is working on that, also.

“I think the biggest thing is, we got together with the horsemen and the racing side, and some of the leaders-to-be, and said, ‘Listen, we want to improve this. We want to increase purses. We may not be able to get it back to its heyday in the ‘80s, but we sure want to give it a shot.’ ”

Why is purse money so important? Plain and simple, owners take their horses where they can compete for the most dollars. Larger purses mean more horses in each race, which experienced bettors like. The better the horses, the better the competition. The better the competition, the more people want to watch—and bet.

“The most important aspect of the racing side is getting the purses up,” Preston said. “We toured the area, so we can implement additional OTB’s (Off-Track Betting) around the area so we can get the purses up from that. We’re going to implement the HHR (Historical Horse Racing) machines, which recently got passed. Obviously, the sports book will increase the purses. We will be active with the sports book right before March Madness.”

The 51-year-old Chicago native has spent most of his career in the gaming industry. However, Preston wants you to know that doesn’t mean he isn’t interested in the racing side of Louisiana Downs.

“Growing up on the south side of Chicago, we would go to the races at all the tracks that were in and around Chicago. Now, being in Kentucky, I am an hour away from Churchill (Downs). While I’m a casino guy, I really love and enjoy the racing side as well.”

Louisiana Downs’ Quarter Horse meet ends April 6. Thoroughbred season starts May 7 (Kentucky Derby Day). Preston believes if you’ve been at LaDowns before, you may not recognize the track.

“It’s going to look completely different,” Preston said. “From the color-scheme, to the paint, to the signage, we’re going to be doing outside shows between races, fireworks. Once someone gets there, they’re going to feel the difference — that these guys are really serious about wanting to bring this thing back to life.”

There are also plans to add restaurants.

“Right now, there’s just a Fuddruckers there, and it’s been there for 10 years,” Preston said. “I mean, how many times can you have hamburgers?”

Whitler, whose most successful horse was Political Whit ($347,190 in career earnings) in the mid-to-late ‘90s, now owns two horses. One, a four-year-old (Simple Sunday, named after the Simple Church), has been racing at Delta Downs near Lake Charles. She will be shipped to Louisiana Downs in time for opening day.

“But I’m 10 times more excited about the possibilities, now that Kevin is at the helm.”

Maybe eventually, Whitler will have to again pay attention to where he parks his car.

Photo by ANN SWITALSKI for Lou Hodges Photography

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Monday

High School Basketball

Girls Playoffs

CLASS 5A

(16) Airline (23-12) at (1) Walker (28-1), 5:30 p.m.
(11) Southwood (23-10) at (6) East St. John (26-3), 6 p.m.
(10) Northshore (22-9) at (26) Captain Shreve (14-16), 6 p.m.
(2) Parkway (30-2) at (18) Zachary, 6 p.m.

CLASS 4A

(12) North Vermilion (21-9) at (5) Huntington (18-6)
(3) Karr (21-11) at (19) Northwood (19-13)

CLASS 1A

(16) Plain Dealing (11-17) at (1) Northwood-Lena (30-1), 6 p.m.

High School Baseball

Airline at West Monroe, 7 pm.
Haughton at Alexandria, 5 p.m.
Benton at Evangel, 6 p.m.
Byrd at Neville, 6 p.m.
Glenbrook at Captain Shreve, 6 p.m.
Calvary at Parkway, 6 p.m.
Southwood at North DeSoto, 6 p.m.
Northwood at Doyline, 6 p.m.
Woodlawn at Downsville, 4:30 p.m.
Loyola at Zwolle, 5 p.m.

High School Softball

Lakeside at Captain Shreve, 6 p.m.
Neville at Haughton, 5:30
Ouachita at Calvary, 2:30
Northwood at Glenbrook

College Baseball

Alma at Centenary, DH, 3 p.m.

College Softball

La-Monroe at Grambling St., 2 p.m.
Centenary at Texas A&M-Texarkana, DH, 4 p.m.

Tuesday

College Basketball

LSUA at LSUS women, 5:30
LSUA at LSUS men, 7:30

College Baseball

Kellogg CC vs. Bossier Parish, at Centenary, 2 p.m.
Southwestern Assemblies of God at LSUS, 2 p.m.
La-Monroe at Northwestern St., 6 p.m.

College Softball

La-Monroe at Grambling St., 2 p.m.

High School Baseball

North Caddo at Captain Shreve, 6 p.m.
Haughton at Northwood, 5 p.m.
Parkway at Evangel, 6 p.m.
Bossier at Southwood, 6 p.m.
Huntington at Minden, 5 p.m.
Plain Dealing at Weston, 5 p.m.

High School Softball

Airline at Many
Captain Shreve at Florien, 5:30
Haughton at West Ouachita, 5:30
Parkway at Evangel
Simsboro at Southwood
Caddo Magnet at Loyola, 5 p.m.
Plain Dealing at Green Oaks

Note: The above schedule is subject to cancellations or reschedule

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We’ve detailed the mind-boggling number of local athletes who played in the NFL during the 2021 season. One (Robert Rochell) of the 16 emerged a Super Bowl champion. As we put away the pigskin in favor of leather, there is plenty of reason to be excited about another batch of local prep products.

The opening weekend for college baseball featured the debut of one of the most-hyped freshmen in this area’s history, Byrd brothers joining forces in Ruston and the start of the sophomore season for a slugger at LSU.

Not surprisingly, the local depth on the diamond is profound. Exhibit A: Former Parkway star Amani Larry stole the show.

Larry hit safely in all three games for New Orleans in the Andre Dawson Classic and capped a dazzling opening weekend with a walk-off (run-rule) home run on Sunday as the Privateers rattled off victories against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling and Alabama State.

“This weekend was amazing,” Larry told The Journal on Sunday. “I’d like to thank God for this opportunity. I’ve been working for this since I was a kid and all the long nights and trusting the process is starting to show. The walk-off was a great feeling but we know there’s more work to be put in with Kansas coming to town next weekend.”

The sophomore, who spent last season at East Central Community College, scored seven runs and collected five RBIs and two stolen bases over the weekend.

Larry wears No. 9 in honor of a family friend: Juan Pierre, a former Major Leaguer (14 seasons) and World Series champion (Florida Marlins, 2003). On Friday, the former high school star in Alexandria, a 2017 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee who posted a .295 career average and collected 614 stolen bases, tweeted:

“I’ve watched this kid grow up @alarry21 and proud of the young man he has become on and off the field!! I pray you have a great season continue to keep God 1st!! It’s your time!! #beastmode”

The success of 318ers extended to Huntsville, Texas.

Last year, Nebraska was one win from knocking Arkansas out of the Fayetteville (Ark.) Regional. This weekend, former Byrd start Trent Touchet helped Sam Houston take three of four games from the Cornhuskers.

The first baseman, a senior, started all four games and pounded out six hits in 13 at-bats, including a ninth-inning home run in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader. Touchet scored four runs and added four RBIs against the Big Red this weekend.

And how about former Calvary Baptist quarterback Cade Hart, who has already made four appearances on the mound for LSU-Eunice? The sophomore has pitched 15 innings, allowed just a single earned run en route to a 2-0 record. He’s struck out 17 batters, allowed 10 hits and walked four batters.

This weekend provided several more standouts not mentioned. As the season progresses, the headlines will often include former Haughton star Peyton Stovall, whose career at Arkansas began with a 2-for-13 weekend. Stovall is the Preseason SEC Freshman of the Year and was a projected first-round pick in the 2021 draft before he pulled his name to play for the Hogs.

Many will have an eye on Hayden Travinski, a former standout at Airline. The LSU sophomore has a big-time bat and will look to garner more time at the plate and behind it this season.

In Ruston, freshman Slade Netterville joined brother Steele, a senior and fellow Byrd alum. Louisiana Tech’s sweep of Wichita State included a victory by Jonathan Fincher (another Byrd product) and sets up a showdown of 3-0 teams, the Bulldogs and LSU, at the Love Shack on Wednesday. Already a sellout, it will be one of the most-anticipated college baseball games in North Louisiana.

At every level, it’s clear the 2022 college baseball season promises to be another showcase for the former prep athletes who cut their teeth in Northwest Louisiana.

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By PRESTON EDWARDS, Journal Sports

No one can ever accuse the Bossier Bearkats of ducking competition. Their perennially tough schedule assures that they are battle-tested when they enter the playoffs.

There is something about the season finale with Neville, however.

Creepy things seem to happen to the Bearkats when they play Neville to finish the season. Two years ago in a win, they lost forward D’ante Bell to an ACL tear. Last year, Neville came to their house and beat them.

So, entering the 2021-22 regular season finale, in Monroe, against the fifth-rated team in Class 4A, the Bearkats might have been a little leery.

Playing in their green uniforms, Bossier withstood a 44 point onslaught by guard Patrick McCraney and left Neville with a 85-76 victory in overtime.

Coach Nick Bohanan definitely saw a silver lining in the win.

“Anytime you can come to Monroe and get a win is big,” Bohanan said. “We played terrible in our last two games against Calvary and Mansfield. We had a little adversity tonight but this win gives us a better taste in our mouth heading into the playoffs.”

A little adversity was right as McCraney, who scored 32 of his 44 points in the second half, looked as if he and his senior teammates were going to snatch a victory from the Bearkats paws.

The Bossier defense was key in getting them to the overtime session as it got three turnovers in a row and converted them into points after they went down by five. On the final possession, the Bossier guards double-teamed McCraney with 2.5 seconds left and forced him into a 30-footer that went awry.

Joseph Manning, who scored a team high of 27, was clutch in the extra session scoring the first five points. He finished the Tigers off by going 13-of-15 from the charity stripe enroute to scoring 17 in overtime.

Manning had help on Friday night as he was one of four double-figure scorers for Bossier. Marquis Harris had a big game in the paint rebounding and scoring. He finished with 18 points. Javon Johnson and Tahj Roots found the range from deep while playing excellent man-to-man defense. Each guard scored 16 for the Bearkats.

Bossier finishes the regular season at 24-7 and is the No. 2 team in the Class 3A power ratings. Neville also finishes their regular season with a record of 24-7.

Photo by PRESTON EDWARDS

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Final Regular Season

Boys   Basketball
DISTRICT 1-5A	Dist.	All
Captain Shreve (8)	13-1	25-5
Natchitoches (7)	11-3	22-6
Airline (17)	10-4	16-9
Southwood (23)	9-5	16-16
Byrd (Div. 1 – 9)	5-9	13-14
Benton (38)	4-10	11-23
Haughton (36)	3-11	15-15
Parkway (44)	1-13	6-20
DISTRICT 1-4A	Dist.	All
Huntington (4)	11-1	19-5
Woodlawn (9)	9-3	26-9
BTW (12)	8-4	21-9
Evangel (Div. II – 6)	8-4	19-8
Northwood (30)	4-8	15-15
Minden (41)	2-10	5-25
North DeSoto (48)	0-12	3-20
DISTRICT 1-3A	Dist.	All
Bossier (2)	8-0	24-7
Mansfield (19)	5-3	12-10
Loyola (Div. II – 15)	4-4	13-17
Green Oaks (31)	3-5	11-18
North Webster (45)	0-8	8-21
DISTRICT 1-2A	Dist.	All
J-Hodge (8)	5-1	17-6
North Caddo (27)	5-1	12-14
Lakeside   (52)	2-4	2-21
D’Arbonne Woods (43)	0-6	9-15
District   1-1A	Dist.	All
Calvary   (Div IV – 2)	7-0	21-7
Lincoln   Prep (4)	6-1	22-9
Arcadia   (11)	5-3	9-16
Ringgold   (14)	4-3	12-17
Homer   (13)	3-5	6-11
Plain   Dealing (25)	3-5	4-19
Glenbrook   (Div IV – 23)	1-6	6-13
Haynesville   (30)	1-7	2-17
Magnolia   (22)	0-0	1-13

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By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

The Shreveport Mudbugs salvaged two points with a 3-2 victory on Sunday at Wichita Falls, but it was the lone bright spot on the three-game trip to Texas.

In a strange twist, Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell thought Sunday produced the “worst” effort of the weekend.

“I was hoping we could get two of three games,” Campbell told The Journal. “That didn’t happen. It’s a funny game. I feel like (Sunday) might have been our worst performance, but it was a huge, huge win for us to try stay in the playoff hunt. I’m just thankful we got it with some timely goals and good goaltending.”

The Mudbugs dropped the first two games of the series and fell eight points behind the final playoff spot with 18 games remaining in the regular season.

Victories in 14 of 18 games nearly erased the deficit created by losing 11 of 12 games early in the 2021-22 season, but a three-game losing streak came at the wrong time.

In Friday’s opener, a goal from Austin Brimmer’s team-leading 12th goal helped the Mudbugs get within one in the third period, but the Warriors held on for a 3-2 victory.

Things weren’t as close on Saturday, even though Shreveport’s Drake Morse opened the scoring early in the second period. Wichita Falls scored the next four goals and applied a considerable amount of pressure on the Mudbugs in Sunday’s finale.

Shreveport responded and ended the losing skid, but finds itself in unfamiliar territory. The Mudbugs have not missed the playoffs as a member of the NAHL and were absent just once during their 14 professional seasons.

Shreveport does have games (three on Wichita, four on Odessa) in hand on the two teams tied for third and fourth place, but victories are needed in those just to earn a tie as things stand now.

Half of Shreveport’s remaining games will be played on George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum.

Last week’s 3 Stars

1. Lukas Sedlacek, scored twice Sunday. His tally 6 minutes into the third period proved to be the difference

2. Connor Gatto, opened the scoring Sunday and sparked a desperate Shreveport squad to a much-needed victory

3. Simon Bucheler, collected his first win in net since Jan. 1 with 31 saves on Sunday

NAHL South Division standings

New Mexico (31-11-3), 65 points
Lone Star (26-10-8), 60
Wichita Falls (23-15-7), 53
Odessa (24-17-5), 53
Corpus Christi (22-22-2), 46
Shreveport (20-17-5), 45
Amarillo (20-21-3), 43
El Paso (13-27-4), 30

*top four make the playoffs

Team leaders

Goals: Austin Brimmer, 12
Assists: Brimmer, 22
Points: Brimmer, 34
Penalty Minutes: Davis Goukler, 107
Game-winning goals: Connor Gatto, 4
Goals-against average: Devon Bobak, 2.14
Save percentage: Bobak, .917

Up next

Shreveport’s road trip concludes with an opportunity to climb a spot in the South standings. The Mudbugs will play a pair of games against Corpus Christi on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico on Feb. 25-26.

Photo by CHRISTI LANG

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Friday

High School Basketball (boys)

Airline 59, Benton 48
Southwood 69, Byrd 34
Captain Shreve 57, Haughton 38
Natchitoches Central 85, Parkway 49
Huntington 64, North DeSoto 34
Woodlawn 81, Minden 55
Evangel 61, BTW 50
Bossier 85, Neville 76, OT
Northwood 79, Plain Dealing 66
Mansfield 49, Green Oaks 45

High School Softball

Minden 18, Byrd 2
Sam Houston 20, Calvary 19
Southwood 15, Saline 1
Stanley 11, North Caddo 1

College Baseball

Grambling St. 10, Jackson St. 1
LSU 13, Maine 1
Louisiana Tech 7, Wichita St. 3
La-Monroe 1, Southern Illinois 0
Stephen F. Austin 7, Northwestern St. 3

College Basketball

MEN

Centenary 77, Southwestern (Texas) 55

WOMEN

Southwestern (Texas) 58, Centenary 49

College Softball

Northwestern St. 3, Chattanooga 1
Tennessee Tech 6, Northwestern St. 0
ULM 11, Houston Baptist 7

Saturday

High School Basketball (boys)

Woodlawn 67, Carroll 61

High School Softball

Airline 16, Ouachita 5
Barbe 8, Calvary 0
John Curtis 14, Calvary 1
Minden 17, Logansport 4
Minden 15, North Caddo 5
North Caddo 12, Caddo Magnet 1
North DeSoto 18, Haughton 8
Pineville 11, Haughton 1
Southwood 19, Lakeside 4

College Basketball

WOMEN

Kilgore 63, Bossier Parish 56
LSUS 81, Texas College 64
La-Lafayette 73, La-Monroe 54
Southern U. 59, Grambling St. 49
Texas A&M-CC 65, Northwestern St. 55
Texas Lutheran 62, Centenary 53
UTSA 59, Louisiana Tech 49

MEN

Grambling St. 61, Southern U. 57
LSUS 113, Texas College 74
Louisiana Tech 95, UTSA 71
La-Lafayette 79, La-Monroe 74
Navarro 105, Bossier Parish 87
South Carolina 77, LSU 75
Texas Lutheran 58, Centenary 47
Texas A&M-CC 83, Northwestern St. 76

College Baseball

LSUS 9-3, Texas A&M-Texarkana 1-5
Bossier Parish 1-10, Tyler JC 3-0
LSU 17, Maine 8
Northwestern St. 6, Stephen F. Austin 2
Louisiana Tech 9, Wichita St. 6
New Orleans 12, Grambling St. 2
Southern Illinois 11, La-Monroe 3

College Softball

Centenary 4, Westminster (Mo.) 3
Hendrix 7, Centenary 6
Jacksonville St. 3, La-Monroe 2
Northwestern St. 3, Purdue-Fort Wayne 0
Sam Houston 4, Louisiana Tech 2, 8 innings
SIUE 5, Northwestern St. 4, 8 innings
Tulsa 8, Louisiana Tech 7

Sunday

College Basketball

Women

LSU 84, Georgia 65

College Baseball

Alma 7, Centenary 5
LSU 21, Maine 6
LSUS 15, Texas A&M-Texarkana 5
Northwestern St. 5, Stephen F. Austin 4
Louisiana Tech 5, Wichita St. 3
Southern Illinois 10, La-Monroe 9
Grambling St. 11, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7

College Lacrosse

Southwestern 23, Centenary 4

College Softball

Centenary 13, Westminster (Mo.) 4, 5 innings
Hendrix 9, Centenary 8
Indiana State 2, Northwestern St. 1
Louisiana Tech 3, Tulsa 2
Louisiana Tech 5 Sam Houston 0
La-Monroe 8, Mississippi Valley 3
Southern Miss. 8, La-Monroe 8

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JOURNAL STAFF

NATCHITOCHES – Late in a tie game with the series outcome hanging in the balance Sunday, Northwestern State got its best hitter up at the right time and Dante Stuart delivered with a two-out, two-strike RBI double in the bottom of the eighth to produce a 5-4 victory over Stephen F. Austin.

It was the second go-ahead rap for Stuart, whose sixth-inning single pushed the Demons on top 4-3.

Larson Fontenot and Stuart combined for six of the 12 hits for NSU in the game with Benton product Cole Horton adding a pair in a 2-for-4 day at Brown-Stroud Field.

LSU 21, MAINE 6: Jay Johnson’s debut as LSU coach was a smashing success, as the Tiger hitters had their way with the Black Bear pitching staff all weekend in Baton Rouge. No. 3 LSU set a school record by scoring 51 runs in a season-opening weekend, topping the 1996 Tigers’ 45 runs against Western Kentucky. Sunday, the Tigers posted 11 runs in the first three innings. Cade Doughty drove in five and homered in a 3-for-3 day, and scored three times. Nine of LSU’s 16 hits went for extra bases.

LOUISIANA TECH 5, WICHITA STATE 3: In Ruston, the Bulldogs completed an impressive sweep of Wichita State as Jarrett Whorff was perfect on the bump in the first four innings and Greg Martinez threw three shutout frames. Kyle Crigger made his second strong appearance in as many days and earned his first save. Cole McConnell singled in two runs in the third inning, finishing with 6 RBI in the series. The Bulldogs won the first two games 7-3 and 9-6.

ALMA 7-2, CENTENARY 5-14: The Gents used a 7-run fifth inning to take the second game of a doubleheader in seven innings to gain a split with the Scots at Shehee Stadium Sunday.

LSUS 15, TEXAS A&M-TEXARKANA 5: The Pilots captured the weekend series 2-1 with the win on Sunday as Zyon Avery was 4-for-6 with a home run, double and 7 RBIs.

GRAMBLING STATE 11, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 7: The Tigers claimed two of three games in the Andre Dawson Classic played in New Orleans. In Sunday’s win over UAPB, GSU rapped out 11 hits with Cameron Bufford going 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBIs and Trevor Hatton was 3-for-4 and scored three times.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 10, ULM 9: The Warhawks stranded 13 baserunners for the second consecutive game in dropping the series finale taken by the Salukis 2-1. Trace Hendry and Grant Schulz both had a pair of hits for ULM with Carson Jones driving in 3 runs with a home run. SIU scored 21 runs in its wins after being edged 1-0 Friday night.

 Photo by GARY HARDAMON

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JOURNAL STAFF

RUSTON — Louisiana Tech’s softball team bounced back in style Sunday.

After losing painfully Saturday to Tulsa and Sam Houston, Tech (6-4) turned the tables Sunday with a 3-2 win over Tulsa and a 5-0 shutout of Sam Houston at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

Tech blew a 7-0 lead Saturday to Tulsa – giving up eight runs in the final inning – and fell 4-2 in extra innings to SHSU.

Tech got stellar pitching performances from Emma Hutchinson and Audrey Pickett on Sunday.

Hutchinson (3-2) got a complete-game win while allowing just two runs – one earned – on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts against Tulsa.

Pickett (3-2) threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just seven hits and one walk while striking out three.

Freshman Aleya Hill delivered the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh against the Golden Hurricane. With one out, Hill pinch hit and drilled a 1-1 pitch high over the right field wall for her first collegiate home run – a walk-off, on her birthday.

NORTHWESTERN STATE: In Chattanooga, the Lady Demons didn’t get the bats moving Sunday and dropped their final game in the three-day Chattanooga Challenge 2-1 to Indiana State. NSU (6-4) got wins over the host team (3-1) and Purdue-Fort Wayne (3-0) and fell to Tennessee Tech (5-0) and SIU-Edwardsville (5-4 in 8 innings) earlier in the tournament. Maggie Darr twirled a two-hit shutout for the Lady Demons.

CENTENARY: The Ladies split two games on Sunday at the Hendrix Spring Fling Tournament in Conway, Ark. Centenary defeated Westminster 13-4 in 5 innings and lost to Hendrix 9-8. No other information was available.

ULM 8, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 3: Gabby Davlla was 4-for-4 with 4 RBIs, Lourdes Bacon 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored and Kennedy Johnson 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs in the Warkawks’ win at the Golden Eagle Invitational in Hattiesburg, Miss.

SOUTHERN MISS 8, ULM 1: The Warhawks fell to the hosts although Korie Kreps had two hits and scored the only run. ULM went 3-2 in the three-day tournament.

BASKETBALL

LSU 66, FLORIDA 61: At the Maravich Assembly Center, the fourth-largest crowd in LSU women’s basketball history (13,620) saw the No. 11 Tigers took sole possession of second in the Southeastern Conference, trailing only No. 1 South Carolina, entering the final week of the regular season. The 17th-ranked Gators nearly swept the season series with LSU, but Alexis Morris scored a game-high 20 points and LSU scored 16 points off turnovers while the visitors only scored two.

Photo courtesy LOUISIANA TECH

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Caddo Parish

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

Eleanor Miguez
July 18, 1936 – February 17, 2022
Visitation:  11:00 a.m. until the time of service
Services: 12:00 p.m. on Monday, February 21, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., 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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The ever optimistic, energetic, encouraging CEO and President of Griggs Enterprise, Roy Griggs has been a philanthropist, volunteer, and solid neighbor for the past 40 years he’s lived in Shreveport. At 17, he began working at a McDonald’s in his Meridian, Miss., hometown. At 20, he was the restaurant’s first black manager. Now the owner of 17 McDonald’s restaurants in north Louisiana and east Texas, Griggs graciously and gladly took a few minutes to talk with SBJ about his life and loves, faith and motivation, and the two-sided coin called failure.

SBJ: How is Black History Month and what it signifies important to you? “We need to know our history so we don’t repeat some things of the past. It’s so important for me to remember the struggles of those who came before. I didn’t get where I am on my own effort; it was their effort that paved the way for me and others like me to own a McDonald’s restaurant. Some years ago, I couldn’t have even gone inside one. Kids need to know that, the history; it makes them appreciate of where we are today.”

SBJ: What’s your advice to young people who ask? “Find that one thing you really enjoy doing, what you’re passionate about. When you begin a career you don’t enjoy, and you’re going after what gives you a certain amount of cash, that’s not what’s driving your passion; it can eventually ‘break’ you. Work hard and follow what you do well and the money will come.”

SBJ: Was there the ‘moment’ you knew you could do this? “When I opened my first restaurant. You prepare but still all kinds of emotions are running through you. Fear of the unknown. I’d invested all I had. I had to hope and trust and believe in God, that he’d prepared me for this. Failure was not an option. Success is all about strategizing and planning. Nobody wakes up and says, ‘I’m going to fail today.’ But you can if you haven’t planned. And I you do fail, that doesn’t mean it’s over. Evaluate, don’t give up, and try again. The difference in winners and losers is winners don’t give up.”

SBJ: Your reaction when employees come back years later to say thanks? “It makes you feel good about yourself that you could put a couple of words into someone’s life and those words or encouragement made a difference, and that they’d thank you for the helping hand. That motivates me to try to ‘pull the next one up.’ Someone might get distracted and can’t see something in themselves — but someone else can see it and then remind them to believe in themselves, to have faith. To see them succeed is one huge thing that motivates me.”

SBJ: Any thoughts of retiring? “I’m still enjoying what I do. Business is a bit different now with the pandemic, but I’m still inspired and motivated to keep moving on. If I lost my passion, I’d quit. (Laughing) But I don’t see that in the foreseeable future.”

SBJ: Your favorite McDonald’s meal? “Quarter Pounder on a hamburger bun, mustard and ketchup, hot fries, strawberry shake … got to have the strawberry shake…”

SBJ: Do you get a discount? “Sometimes I do! Then again, there are times where they make me pay. And that’s all right too.”

— Teddy Allen, SBJ

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It’s a five-letter word that many college baseball coaches usually dare not say when talking about their team’s chances in a season. If you are wondering what that word is, here’s a hint — it begins with O and ends with MAHA.

To everyone who says that Louisiana Tech can’t possibly think in those terms, the Bulldogs might say this:

Kent State.

Stony Brook.

Coastal Carolina.

All three have been in the College World Series in Omaha in the past 10 years. None have ever been considered a traditional college baseball power. Yes, the CWS is dominated by schools that are at the top of the college food chain. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for others.

The 2022 season may have snuck up on you — it starts today — but it didn’t catch Tech fans by surprise. Season tickets for J.C. Love Field are sold out. There is a buzz about the Tech baseball program that has never been there before.

“It does have a different feel, but that’s why you build your program,” Bulldog coach Lane Burroughs said. “This is where you want to be. You want people to expect you to be there. You want there to be a buzz. This is what we envisioned when we took over. We’ve just got to go out and deliver on the field now.”

Make no mistake — the Bulldogs won’t be easing into the 2022 season. Tech will open with seven games at home against three teams that have a combined 27 appearances in the College World Series. All three have been there in the past 25 years. It starts with a weekend series against Wichita State, next Wednesday evening’s sold-out game against LSU and then a three-game series with Tulane.

You halfway wonder if the Atlanta Braves would have been on the schedule if it weren’t for that whole MLB lockout thing.

The Bulldogs might have been the best story in college baseball last year. Stranded without a home for two years after a tornado destroyed the baseball facility, the program was rebuilt in multiple ways. What resulted was a re-done J.C. Love Field that is still hard to believe exists at the corner of West Alabama and Tech Drive.

What is harder to believe is the run the Bulldogs made at that facility. Tech went from a program literally playing on a high school field in 2020 to one that had wins over No. 1 Arkansas and No. 4 Ole Miss – in the same week – and a 22-8 record in Conference USA.

Then came the words that many found difficult to put together in the same sentence and actually believe — “Ruston Regional.”

Burroughs is the first to admit that the stars aligned for Tech last year, but what he is facing this year is completely different.

“We’re in a position we’ve never been in as a program,” he said. “We are getting a lot of attention (Collegiate Baseball has Tech at No. 15 in the pre-season poll), but our guys just want to compete.”

A year ago, it was a different atmosphere. “We talked last year as a team about leaving a legacy, but there really wasn’t much pressure on them, not much expectation,” Burroughs said. “Let’s be honest, we didn’t have a home (field) for two years.”

In many ways, the legacy the 2021 team left might manifest itself in the 2022 team. Was that just a once-in-a-lifetime team or the start of a program with ideas of going places? Might it become one that can actually think in terms of playing in Nebraska in June?

“I hear it said that not only do we need you to host (another regional), but we need you in Omaha,” Burroughs said of the baseball buzz. “But that’s why we all do this.”

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