By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports
What’s next?
Now that Mikaylah Williams has finished her high school basketball career at Parkway – capping it off by leading the Lady Panthers to their first state championship this past weekend – you’d think she might take a little time to rest.
After all, she’s been unbelievably busy the past few years.
For the Parkway senior, however, it’s on to the next achievement.
On March 18, the reigning Louisiana Gatorade Player of the year will be in Pineville competing in the 2023 La. High School Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game. Ten days after that, Williams will be at the Toyota Center in Houston as one of 24 players selected to compete in the McDonald’s All-American Game – which will be televised on ESPN2.
Minutes after scoring a game-high 34 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in Parkway’s 80-57 drubbing of Ponchatoula in Saturday night’s championship game of the Non-Select Division I playoffs, Williams shared her excitement in being able to cap her Lady Panthers’ basketball career with the program’s highly-anticipated state title.
“Winning the title and being named Most Valuable Player is extra important to me,” said Williams. “Those are two things I can check off my bucket list. We’ve been waiting 365 days for this. It’s been on our mind all year.”
It was just over one year ago that Parkway fell to Ponchatoula 80-79 in double overtime of the LHSAA Class 5A championship game. Getting back to the title game – and bringing the trophy back to Bossier City – was a season-long goal for the Lady Panthers. Being able to avenge the heartbreaking loss to the Green Wave in the finals served as icing on the cake.
While Williams – a generational talent considered the nation’s No. 1 prospect – has been an integral part of Parkway’s rise to dominance in Class 5A, she is the first to credit her teammates for their part in the success of the program. That “family” also includes every member of the staff – especially coach Gloria Williams.
“From Mikaylah all the way down, those seniors have left their legacy,” the Parkway coach said following Saturday night’s victory. “Those five seniors … that heart and effort they showed is amazing.”
Four of Parkway’s starting five this season are seniors – Mikaylah Williams, Makenna Miles, Ty’lissa “Lucy” Henderson, and Amoree Williams. Henderson and Miles finished the championship game with nine points each while Amoree Williams had eight rebounds. Senior Aniya Russell, who battled back after a serious knee injury in December, came off the bench against Ponchatoula and scored six points.
All-around star athlete Chloe Larry, who will be back for her senior season next year, finished the title game with 17 points, four rebounds, and three steals.
“To play at that level, phenomenal offense and defense, and to be so focused is just amazing,” Gloria Williams said of her players.
Of Mikaylah Williams’ effort in the championship, the Lady Panthers’ coach simply said: “To have a double-double in her final performance in a Parkway uniform is awesome.”
That just capped off an incredible high school career, which includes (to name a few):
- Being named “Miss Basketball” by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, the Most Outstanding Player on the Class 5A Girls’ Basketball All-State team and Most Valuable Player on the 1-5A All-District Team in 2022.
- Becoming the third amateur athlete from Shreveport-Bossier area to receive the Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year by the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in December.
- Capturing international acclaim as a three-time gold medalist for Team USA (she was named MVP at the FIBS 3×3 U18 World Cup).
- Lauded as the No. 1 girls’ basketball player in the nation (according to AGSR, Prospects Nation, Jr. All-Star National Rankings and ESPN HoopGurlz).
Oh, and by the way, she will graduate in the top 10 percent of her class.
With all she has done so far, there are still a couple of big-ticket items on her bucket list: being a starter on the LSU women’s basketball team next season and (“pushing it,” she says) winning a title her freshman year.
I wouldn’t bet against either one.
Contact Harriet at sbjharriet@gmail.com