JOURNAL STAFF
Local high school girls basketball, especially in District 1-5A, is as good as it gets statewide.
That was borne out again in the 2024-25 season as 1-5A produced three local teams that reached the state semifinals, including the Division I Select state champion Huntington Lady Raiders and the No. 1 seed in the Non-Select Division I bracket, two-time defending state champion Parkway. Haughton earned a No. 4 slot in the Non-Select Division I tournament and made its first ever state semifinal appearance, but ran into the Lady Panthers, who made the state championship game for the fourth straight year.
Not to say there’s a shortage of good players from local teams outside of 1-5A but this year’s Shreveport-Bossier Journal All-Metro Girls Basketball Team illustrates just how strong the big school district is – nine of the 10 girls chosen for first or second-team All-Metro are from the power district.
Leading the way is All-Metro Outstanding Player Dakota Howard, who spearheaded Parkway’s dominance locally and statewide until a state finals stumble. The graceful Howard averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds, 7 steals and 4 assists as the Lady Panthers went 29-5 in what turned out to be the final season for coach Gloria Williams, who stepped away from coaching last month.
Howard edged out Huntington’s Carley Hamilton for the Outstanding Player nod. Hamilton averaged 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds 4 assists and 4 steals for the state champs and capped her career with a 27-point performance in the state final.
Her coach, Brian Shyne, was an easy choice as the All-Metro Coach of the Year. His 23-10 team was runner-up to Parkway in the Lady Raiders’ first season in 1-5A after moving up from 1-4A, and embarking on a season-long mission to make amends for falling short as a No. 1 playoff seed in the Select division a year ago.
Shyne steered fourth-seeded Huntington over No. 3 Woodlawn of Baton Rouge in the championship game, posting a 61-51 win over a team that topped the Lady Raiders in an early-season meeting and in last year’s state semifinals. Huntington stunned No. 1 John Curtis 61-59 in this season’s semis.
Haughton went 29-6 led by first-team All-Metro choice Shaniya Perkins, a 6-1 post player who averaged 16 points and 16 rebounds. Lady Bucs coach Jenna Bolin was another remarkable candidate for Coach of the Year honors.
The All-Metro first and second teams were chosen by the SBJ staff, including Journal prep basketball expert Preston Edwards, in close consultation with local observers and coaches. Our “Best of the Rest” list was compiled on the same accord with consideration of the All-Metro second team at minimum, and was deeper than normal due to the abundant talent and performance by local girls.
2024-25 Shreveport-Bossier Journal All-Metro Girls Basketball Team
First team
Dakota Howard, Parkway, 5-10, Sr., 23.0 ppg
Carley Hamilton, Huntington, 5-7, Sr., 21.2 ppg
Shaniya Perkins, Haughton, 6-1, Jr., 16 ppg
Kyndal Graham, Huntington, 5-6, Jr., 14 ppg
Savannah Wilson, Parkway, 5-10, Sr., 12 ppg
Second team
Jaila Marshall, Northwood
Skylar Branch, Haughton
Jamar’I Bell, Huntington
Ke’Zyriah Sykes, Airline
Madesyn Bedford, Captain Shreve
Outstanding Player – Dakota Howard, Parkway
Coach of the Year – Brian Shyne, Huntington
Best of the rest
Addison McDowell, Airline; Addison Stevenson, Calvary; Shaniya Gray, Green Oaks; Mikayla Rogers, Northwood; Ja’Kaylyn Pouncy, BTW; Jakayla Douglas, Plain Dealing; Brianna Newton, Plain Dealing; Kryshna Bostic, Benton; Taylor Brown, Benton; Kamara Effit, Southwood; Francesca Green, Southwood.