By LAMAR GAFFORD, Journal Sports
PINEVILLE – It has been a busy month for Parkway senior Chloe Larry.
Just weeks after making one of the immediately legendary baskets in state tournament history and leading the Lady Panthers to their second straight state girls basketball championship in the Division I Non-Select bracket, Larry is helping her softball teammates push to the playoffs playing in the first of a three-game week.
However, the state championship triumph was not her last hoops hurrah as a high schooler. Amid her hectic schedule, Larry did have time for one more prep basketball game last Saturday as she played in the LHSCA/LHSBCA All-Star Game at Louisiana Christian University’s H.O. West Fieldhouse.
“It’s just a great opportunity to be able to play with that many great players,” Larry said. “You have to play a little different than you would on your high school team, but I got adjusted and I was able to play.”
Sharing a backcourt with another star-studded championship guard and Division I signee in Lafayette Christian’s Jada Richard (LSU), Larry scored seven points in the West’s 90-59 rout over the Eastern All-Stars.
According to LGR Basketball’s Class of 2024 state rankings, Richard and Larry are ranked Nos. 1 and 3, respectively. Richard is set to play next season with Larry’s former Parkway teammate Mikaylah Williams, who earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors.
“It was pretty cool playing with Jada,” Larry said. “She’s an LSU signee and you don’t get that opportunity a lot [to play with someone of that caliber].”
While Larry did not capture MVP honors, she won the 3-point competition at halftime of the girls game. She needed to prevail in a tiebreaker in the first round, then defeated Family Community’s Peyton Hales with 12 3-pointers in the championship round to win it.
As if there was ever a doubt for a player earning the nickname “Half Court” for her viral heave, the 54-foot game-winner at the final buzzer in overtime to knock out No. 1-ranked Walker in the semifinals. Her shot sizzled through social media channels and got primetime billing on ESPN’s SportsCenter and was Scott Van Pelt’s The Best Thing I Saw Today on the sports mothership.
The following Monday, it was time to pull on the softball uniform. But looking ahead, she didn’t hang up her basketball shoes.
“It was kind of tough and I was a little tired,” Larry said. “But I had to push through and I got some shots up in between.”
With her basketball season finally over, she plans to finally have her celebratory signing to Tennessee Tech today at 1 in Parkway’s auxiliary gym, sharing the spotlight with Panthers’ cross country star Gabe Falting (bound for Arkansas State). Hours later, she will be back on the softball diamond for a home game against Captain Shreve.
“It’s been a long year, so I’ve been busy, but I’m finally able to get it in there,” Larry said. “[To find the time], I just have to figure it out. It just keeps rolling.”
In the boys game Saturday afternoon, Southwood senior center and UL Lafayette signee Jeremiah Evans made an impact on both ends of the court with nine points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer, to help the West win, 90-84.
In the first half, Evans displayed his dominance in the paint with six rebounds and three blocks.
Evans and Larry were the Player of the Year choices last week on the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s All-Metro teams, and nobody who watched the All-Star Game action would disagree.
Also during the boys game, Airline junior Jayden Gladney won the 3-point competition at halftime to make it a sweep for Bossier City claiming the top sharpshooters.
Gladney made 13 threes to take down Lafayette Christian freshman Hutson Mire in the finals.
“During spring break, I was going to the gym and get some more shots up for this 3-point contest and I noticed which shot was my best,” Gladney said. “The left wing and corner were that and I’m glad I was able to do well from that side.”
Contact LaMar at lamargafford@gmail.com