Well, I guess most of us got a three-day vacation we didn’t expect. That’s right. A good ole wintry mix of weather has kept us in the house experiencing some much needed downtime.
For hoops fans, parents, and players, that meant no basketball. That’s okay, the SBJ Prep Hoops report this week will, we hope, brighten your day. As usual, we will review some of the things we did see and hear before being “snowed” in while giving you a picture of what’s to come in Shreveport-Bossier.
Instant Classic
The Bossier Bearkat schedule lends the Bearkats to play one of these classics seemingly every week. This time they hosted I-20 and Divison II Non-select rival Wossman. Wossman led the majority of the game behind the shooting of Antron Mason II and Krystian Lewis. However, Javon Johnson (who scored a game high 27) and Kerel Woods-Dean helped the Bearkats grab the lead with two minutes remaining. After trading baskets back and forth, Antron Mason II called game with a 30-footer at the horn. Needless to say, the game was a classic.
Weekend play
Bossier, Calvary Baptist, Huntington, Booker T. Washington and Southwood all hit the road to play in various classics during the Martin Luther King weekend. A day after their instant classic, Bossier defeated Catholic-New Iberia in a Mal Mundy-hosted event. Huntington and BTW played in the Lincoln Prep/Michael Lyons Classic. BTW lost by one to Red River while Huntington lost to perennial power Peabody. The MLK Extravaganza in Lake Charles is where Calvary and Southwood played. Southwood split its two games, winning against Dunham on Sunday after losing to defending state champion Ponchatoula the day before. East St. John handed Calvary its second loss of the week, 59-54.
All the teams above, except BTW, will play this Saturday in the Extravaganza Classic at Calvary Baptist.
Rankings (with a couple of surprises)
The rankings for girls Select and Non-select have not changed much from last week. Huntington is still the top team in Division I Select. Southwood remains in the top 10 at No. 9. Northwood has risen to 15 and Captain Shreve is 19. BTW is the lone ranked school in Division 2 Select at 21.
Even though there are no ranked local schools in Division 3 Select, Calvary and Loyola are close. Both teams are within 0.13 of the final playoff slot. So, this means that a lot will ride on their district games. Considering everyone in the district has a losing record, things should get interesting this next month.
On the boys’ side, Northwood has become the surprise fourth-ranked team in Division I Select. The Falcons, led by coach Marvin Davis, have an 11-8 record, winning seven of their last 10. One of those seven was against Non-Select No. 2 Natchitoches Central.
The Evangel Christian Eagles are 12th in Division 2 Select and could be higher. They have lost to Peabody, Bossier and Carroll, to name a few. But they are right in the thick of it.
With 1-4A district play about to crank up, the Falcons and Eagles can determine if they land or where they land in the playoffs.
Other ranked teams (Select and Non-Select)
DI Select – (3) Captain Shreve, (7) Southwood, (18) Huntington
D2 Select – (18) BTW; (23) Woodlawn
DI Non-Select (18) Airline, (22) Parkway
D2 Non-Select (5) – Bossier
Calvary is the fourth rated team in D3 Select. Loyola is 25th but is 0.09 points away from 24th. The Flyers need to win some games as district play begins Friday.
Key games
Friday and Monday will have key games in Shreveport-Bossier. Southwood will travel to Kings Highway Friday for a date with Captain Shreve. Haughton will face Parkway on Monday at Parkway. The winner of both games will be the District 1-5A leader. Booker T. will host Bossier to open 1-4A play. If the Lions want to win the district, this game is their chance to set the tone.
Jersey retirement
An event that has been a long time coming will commence at the end of the first quarter of the Southwood home game against Captain Shreve on February 13. At that time, the hallowed jersey of Paul Marshall will be retired at Southwood High School. The former LSU and ULM player will have his No. 24 hung as the first number retired in Southwood basketball history. Marshall scored over 3,100 points in his Southwood career and accumulated various state and district honors during 1987-1991. Salute to one of the best players to ever lace them up in Shreveport-Bossier.
Contact Preston at preston9360@gmail.com or Twitter handle @peedee1906