By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports
If there’s one thing Airline boys basketball coach Cedric Washington doesn’t have to worry about, it’s finding someone to take a big shot when a game is on the line.
Even though he has three seniors in his starting lineup, it’s sophomore Kevin White who is more than willing to take on that task.
Halfway through this season, White has already taken more game-deciding shots than some players do in their entire careers.
During the Christmas break, White had a couple of big buckets in Viking victories and the followed it up Tuesday night with a key basket and free throw in an overtime win over Parkway in a District 1-5A game.
Against Bossier on Dec. 29 in the semifinals of the Doc Edwards Tournament (played at Airline), White’s drive for a layup off an inbounds play provided the winning points in a 49-48 win over Bossier.
Saturday he struck again, this time in the Bossier Invitational with a drive through the lane for a layup in a 45-43 win over Huntington. “There was no time out,” Washington said. “He just saw it and went with it.”
That shot was made a little more special because it avenged a loss in the finals of the Doc Edwards, when White also had an opportunity to tie it but didn’t get the shot to go down and the Vikings lost by two. “I think I got fouled on the game-winning shot,” White said. “But they didn’t call it.”
White doesn’t hesitate on which game-winner is his favorite. “The Bossier one for sure,” he said. “That one was at home.”
If you are noticing a trend that White’s game-winners have all seem to come near the basket, there’s a reason for that.
“He’s so fast with the basketball,” Washington said. “With his driving ability, there aren’t many who can keep up with him right now. We want to get it in his hands so he could get where he needs to go.”
The feeling of a game-winner is unlike anything else in basketball, White said. “It’s just hard to explain. It’s a rush of excitement. Everybody runs on the court and that makes it feel great.”
White is a sophomore in name only. The 6-foot-2 guard was a starter for much of the season a year ago for Airline, so the experience isn’t overwhelming for him.
“The experience and the growing pains from (last year) have helped him evolve into the role he has this year,” Washington said. “Plus the knowledge he gets from seniors (football stars Bryson Broom and Tre Jackson) who have been playing since freshmen has helped him to grow.”
White is averaging 14.0 points per game while shooting 57 percent from the field. He also averages 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game.
“I put a lot of work in,” White said. “I’m not nervous anymore like I was last year.”
The Vikings are almost an entirely different team from the start of the season, when they lost three of the first four games and then had a four-game losing streak in December.
Not only did the start the season without some players who were still playing football, but White was also absent with a shoulder injury that cost him almost a month.
“We are like two different teams now,” White said.
Airline is 12-9 overall and 2-1 in the district, which is loaded this year. Captain Shreve and Southwood are both Top 10 teams in the Select Division I power ratings and Natchitoches Central is No. 2 in Non-Select Division 1.
The Vikings will be at home against NCHS (16-3) Friday night.
“Right now we are almost a complete team,” Washington said. “We are still trying to figure a few things out, but overall I’m happy to have everybody back and healthy. This last two or three weeks has pretty much been the complete picture.”
Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com